How to become a medicaid transportation provider in virginia

As a Medicaid driver, you provide non-emergency transportation to recipients of Medicaid insurance. There are many requirements and regulations that go into this career choice, but once you have obtained your necessary credentials, it can be a rewarding career.

Becoming an Employee

One path to a career as a Medicaid driver is to work for an established driving company. Contact the employer to inquire about their specific applicant requirements. Most companies request a high school diploma or GED. You will have to obtain a commercial driver's license and, depending on the state, the license must allow you to transport passengers. A good driving record is also important, with minimal tickets and accidents.

You must also pass a background check and possibly obtain certain medical clearances. The ability to lift up to 50 pounds is also helpful because you will be working with individuals who may need assistance getting into and out of the vehicle.

Do Your Research

If business ownership is your preference, your first step is to contact your state human services agency. States vary in the way that they contract and pay Medicaid drivers. Virginia uses LogistiCare, a management company that contracts with driving companies to handle the actual transportation duties. The company provides its own Logisticare training program for service providers. Oregon uses a range of service providers which are listed on the Oregon Health Authority website.

In this situation, the network manager handles the credentialing of the driving companies, the scheduling and the billing. Other states work directly with various driving companies. In these jurisdictions, you will apply directly with the state agency.

Getting on the Transportation Provider Network List

In order to subcontract with a driver management company, you must have an established business. This usually entails getting a business license in your locality. You must also register your business with your state corporation office and obtain a tax ID number.

Once you have taken the basic steps to start your business, you then need to make sure that you and your employees have the necessary driving and financial credentials. When applying to work with the management company, you will be provided with a list of these requirements. Once you have met them all, your company can start transporting clients and receiving pay from the management company.

A State Contract

If your state contracts directly with Medicaid drivers, check with the Department of Human Services to determine its requirements. A criminal background check is generally necessary. Because you will be billing Medicaid, the prevention of fraud is very important.

Certain criminal convictions will keep you from being eligible for Medicaid billing. Within your company, each of your drivers must meet the transportation provider credentialing and licensing requirements. In addition, all of your vehicles must be titled correctly and you must make sure you have the appropriate amount of liability insurance. Once you complete all necessary forms, submit all required documents to the state office for consideration.

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Starting your own non-emergency medical transportation company may seem like a daunting task. However, when you take the process step-by-step, it’s achievable for anyone with a willingness to learn and work hard to create a successful business. 

More than 4 million Americans miss or delay their healthcare appointments every year due to lack of adequate transportation. This is a staggering figure, especially when you consider the important appointments that are missed—routine checkups, lab tests, rehab sessions, pharmacy pickups, dentist visits, and more.  

Luckily, Medicaid beneficiaries have the opportunity to receive rides, if eligible, to and from their appointments. This benefit is known as non-emergency medical transportation. 

NEMT is a rapidly growing industry. Elderly and disabled folks across the nation need reliable transportation, so starting a non-emergency medical transportation business is a worthwhile venture, no matter where you’re located. 

Unsure where to begin? No problem. We’ve created a complete guide to starting your own NEMT business from the ground up. Read on to learn about basic requirements, approximate start-up costs, and other useful tips and tricks to learn how to start a transportation company.

1. File for legal status

One of the first things you should do when you start a business is figure out what your legal status will be. Typically, you will either be an LLC, sole proprietorship, or partnership. Each status comes with its advantages and disadvantages, so understanding what you want out of your business and what your structure might look like is a good place to start. It’s important to sit down with a lawyer and discuss your options so that you choose the status that’s best for your situation. 

2. Prepare legal documents

Preparing and filing your legal documents correctly is crucial to a successful start of your business. This includes filling out and submitting licenses, certificates, and permits that will legally allow you to operate. It’s important to note that requirements vary based on the state and city you’re working in. Whether you’re located in Michigan, California, Texas, Georgia, or New York, there will be regulations specific to your locale. You should begin by filling out a medical transportation provider application package at your local Department of Motor Vehicles. 

3. Sign up for insurance

In order to run your business, you’ll have to insure both your vehicles and your drivers. The price you pay depends on a number of factors, including anything from driver experience and history, to types of vehicles in your fleet, to how many trips you complete in a day. Understanding what factors impact insurance cost is important, so you can eventually adjust and work to lower it. Many providers require training courses for their drivers to decrease insurance prices.  

4. The cost of starting your NEMT business

How much money do you need to start a medical transport business? Some estimate that successfully launching an NEMT company costs more than $300,000. This number stems from a variety of factors—registering the business, covering legal fees, finding a suitable facility, signing up for insurance, purchasing permits and licenses, purchasing vehicles, paying utility bills and wages, launching a website and marketing your business, among other things.  

But don’t let that figure deter you. There are some great ways to cut costs from the start. For example, maybe you already have a proper vehicle or two, or you can rent a van to begin with instead of outright buying it. If you’re starting small, don’t worry about finding a huge office space. Operate out of your home, if possible, and see if your friends and family would be willing to help with management and behind the scenes work, so you can focus on building relationships with clients and completing trips.  

These small adjustments can help reduce costs and increase the amount you have in your pocket. 

5. Establish your fleet

Once you have all your paperwork completed, it’s time to build your fleet. It’s important to find vehicles that are reliable, safe, and customizable for passengers’ unique needs. All vehicles should be ADA compliant and equipped with wheelchairs, stretchers, oxygen tanks, walkers, and anything else your passengers may need. This shows the government that you’re prepared for all types of trip situations and have the tools to accommodate a variety of passengers. 

6. Find your passengers

If potential clients don’t know your business exists, they can’t book a trip. This means you need to market your business, and market it well. Reach out to nursing homes, assisted living facilities, retirement communities, and hospitals in your area to see if you can strike a deal for regular transport. Hang up flyers in grocery stores and local businesses where your target group shops. And, of course, create an informative website. When you develop your online presence, keep in mind that the majority of your clients are elderly and disabled folks, so it’s important to make your site both accessible and user friendly. 

7. Choose the best NEMT software 

NEMT software is ground-breaking technology that automates all aspects of your NEMT operation, including dispatching, scheduling, routing, billing, driver management, customer notifications, and more. It tackles daily challenges like traffic problems, vehicle breakdowns, driver call offs, cancellations, no-shows, on-demand trips, among other things. In addition, the software simplifies billing to reduce errors and allow for faster reimbursement times. 

If you’re looking for a top-notch, modern platform, RouteGenie is the way to go. Now that you’ve read our guide, it’s time to create your very own NEMT business. No matter where you’re located or how many vehicles you plan to operate with, we hope these steps help you get started!

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