# How to Become a Call the Car Transportation Provider in 2027

Canonical URL: https://nemtguide.com/brokers/call-the-car/ · Updated 2026-09-28

To become a Call the Car transportation provider, enroll your company in Medi-Cal, then send the subcontractor form on Call the Car's website with your NPI, Medi-Cal ID, permits, counties, fleet, and levels of service. As of September 2026, Call the Car arranges Medi-Cal rides for L.A. Care and Blue Shield Promise, and since May 12, 2026 only non-medical rides for IEHP.

- As of September 2026, Call the Car arranges Medi-Cal rides for L.A. Care and Blue Shield Promise in Los Angeles and San Diego counties.
- Since May 12, 2026, IEHP books its own wheelchair, gurney, and ambulance trips, and Call the Car keeps only IEHP's non-medical rides.
- Every company that drives plan rides must enroll in Medi-Cal, and a plan can let you drive for only 120 days while enrollment is pending.
- Wheelchair, gurney, and ambulance rides need a PCS form the plan approves, and the broker cannot change the ride type on it.
- Fee-for-service Medi-Cal pays at most $20.30 plus $1.50 a mile for a wheelchair van trip (September 2023). Your subcontract sets what Call the Car pays.

Call the Car is a California medical transportation company that arranges rides for Medi-Cal health plans and medical groups. It runs its own vehicles alongside a network of outside companies, which it calls expanded network companies. As a subcontractor you take trips under Call the Car's contracts with those plans, so the plans it serves in your county decide how much work there is.

## Which health plans use Call the Car

Call the Car was founded in 2010 by a doctor and a firefighter, as L.A. Care described it on April 23, 2019. It calls itself woman-owned and certified minority-owned. It offers curb-to-curb and door-to-door rides, wheelchair and gurney vans, basic and advanced life support, specialty care transport, air ambulance, public transit, and mileage reimbursement.

As of September 2026, these plans and groups send rides through Call the Car:

| Plan or group | Who rides | What Call the Car handles |
|---|---|---|
| L.A. Care Health Plan, Los Angeles County | Medi-Cal and L.A. Care Medicare Plus (D-SNP) members, and L.A. Care Covered members in the specific cases their plan covers rides | NEMT and NMT, since a phased start on March 1, 2019 |
| Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan | Medi-Cal members in Los Angeles and San Diego counties | NEMT and NMT |
| Blue Shield of California Medicare | Medicare members | A ride line on Call the Car's contact page |
| Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP), Riverside and San Bernardino counties | Medi-Cal and DualChoice members | NMT only, since May 12, 2026 |
| Central California Alliance for Health, AppleCare Medical Group, Heritage Victor Valley Medical Group, San Diego Regional Center | Members of each | Ride lines on Call the Car's contact page |

L.A. Care said on April 23, 2019 that it would ultimately have 100 Call the Car vehicles branded for L.A. Care and serving only its members. The Alliance's own transportation page tells members to call the Alliance to book, so ask both how that work is split. The San Diego Regional Center serves people with developmental disabilities. Blue Shield Promise explains that a regional center authorizes transportation in a person's service plan that does not qualify as NEMT or NMT and bills the state developmental services department for it. That is waiver transportation work, not Medi-Cal plan rides.

Other California plans use other brokers or book their own rides. The [California guide](https://nemtguide.com/states/california/) lists who arranges rides for each plan, including American Logistics and [Modivcare](https://nemtguide.com/brokers/modivcare/).

### The 2026 change at IEHP

IEHP moved all its member transportation to Call the Car on February 1, 2023, replacing American Logistics for every line of business except Kaiser. On May 11, 2026, IEHP told providers that starting May 12, 2026, it manages all NEMT trips directly instead of through Call the Car. Call the Car keeps coordinating IEHP's non-medical rides, and IEHP Member Services routes members to it.

IEHP says it contracts with more than 60 transportation providers, and that in most cases a member's transportation provider stays the same. What it means for you:

- **Cars and minivans.** IEHP's NMT rides still come through Call the Car.
- **Wheelchair vans, gurney vans, and ambulances.** IEHP's NEMT work is arranged by IEHP now. Its ancillary contracting asks for a letter of interest, a W-9, and proof of Medi-Cal enrollment or of a submitted application, emailed to jointhenetwork@iehp.org.

See the IEHP guide and IEHP takes NEMT in-house.

## How to join Call the Car's network

1. **Enroll in Medi-Cal.** Apply through DHCS's PAVE portal for NEMT (wheelchair van, litter van, or both), NMT, or all of them. DHCS All Plan Letter 22-008 requires every NEMT and NMT provider in a plan network to meet Medi-Cal enrollment rules. A plan may let you drive for up to 120 days while your application is pending, but it must end the contract if DHCS denies you or the 120 days run out.
2. **Get a Type 2 NPI.** The application asks for it. See [how to get an NPI number for NEMT](https://nemtguide.com/guides/how-to-get-an-npi-number-for-nemt/).
3. **Send the subcontractor application.** It is on Call the Car's "Join Our Network" page. The required fields are your company name, contact title, business address, phone, owner name, hours of operation, primary state, counties, languages spoken, and dispatch software. It also asks for:
   - Your website, the cities you serve, and whether your company is minority, veteran, women, or disabled owned.
   - Your NPI, your Medi-Cal ID, and the permits your company holds.
   - Whether you are an approved Medi-Cal provider or your application is pending.
   - Your number of drivers and vehicles.
   - The levels of service you offer: ambulatory, wheelchair, gurney, basic or advanced life support ambulance, or specialty care and critical care transport.
4. **Talk to a representative.** Call the Car says a representative contacts you to discuss the next steps.
5. **Book your credentialing inspection.** The bottom of Call the Car's site has a "Credentialing Inspection Sign Ups" link for booking online.
6. **Use the subcontractor portal.** Call the Car's subcontractor portal is at vendors.callthecar.com.

Call the Car says it checks that its network companies hold the right certifications, permits, and liability insurance and follow its policies. Ask for its insurance limits and its driver and vehicle checklist before you apply, and see [NEMT broker credentialing](https://nemtguide.com/guides/nemt-broker-credentialing/) and [NEMT insurance requirements](https://nemtguide.com/guides/nemt-insurance-requirements/).

## What Medi-Cal requires from your vans and drivers

Medi-Cal enrollment sets the floor for Call the Car's network. DHCS listed these documents in its June 2023 guide for transportation providers:

| | NMT (cars and minivans) | NEMT (wheelchair and litter vans) |
|---|---|---|
| Each vehicle | DMV commercial registration and proof of commercial vehicle insurance | The same, plus a brake and lamp certificate if the registration shows a salvaged title |
| Each driver | Driver's license, California DMV driving history printout, medical examination report (MCSA-5875), and medical examiner's certificate (MCSA-5876) | The same, plus first aid and CPR certificates, alcohol test results, and a pre-employment drug test |

Your company also sends articles of incorporation if it is a corporation, an owner's ID, proof of your EIN (such as IRS Letter 147C or the SS-4 confirmation notice), any local business license, a fictitious business name statement if you use one, your lease, and proof of workers' compensation insurance. DHCS expects an established place of business: open and operating when you apply, in a building you own or lease, with every state and local permit it needs.

Each van type has its own equipment list in the same guide:

- **Wheelchair van.** Room for at least two riders in standard wheelchairs, an emergency exit other than the loading door that fits a wheelchair, securements strong enough to hold the chairs if the van overturns, a lift or ramp rated for at least 450 pounds, and washable vinyl seats. Your company name goes on both sides and the rear in letters at least 4 inches high.
- **Litter van.** A loading entrance and a second exit that each fit a standard gurney, gurney fasteners, a two-person gurney with mattress and straps, a cot fastener, and an attendant seat. A certified driver and an attendant run every trip, and the van may not be marked as an ambulance.

Federal law adds a floor under all of it. Under section 1902(a)(87) of the Social Security Act, as CMS explained on September 28, 2023, no NEMT provider or driver may be on a federal exclusion list, such as the [OIG exclusion list](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/oig-exclusion-list/), and every driver needs a valid license. Your company also needs a process to deal with state drug law violations and to report each driver's driving history to the state. For the full enrollment steps, see the [California guide](https://nemtguide.com/states/california/).

## How Call the Car trips are booked and run

The type of ride decides the paperwork. See NEMT vs NMT.

- **NEMT** (wheelchair van, litter van, ambulance) needs a Physician Certification Statement (PCS) that the plan, not the broker, reviews and approves. Under APL 22-008, neither the plan nor its broker may change the ride type on the form or downgrade a member to NMT, unless the prescriber checked more than one type. A PCS can cover up to 12 months.
- **NMT** (car, taxi, rideshare, bus) needs no PCS. It is for members with no other way to get to care.

No PCS is needed for a transfer from an emergency room to an inpatient bed, or from an acute hospital stay to a skilled nursing facility, an intermediate care facility, or a psychiatric facility. APL 22-008 requires a ride from an acute hospital stay to one of those facilities within 3 hours of the request. If it is late, the hospital may arrange an out-of-network ride and the plan must cover it. L.A. Care asks for the PCS form within 24 hours of each NEMT trip. See [hospital discharge transportation](https://nemtguide.com/guides/hospital-discharge-transportation/).

Each plan sets its own booking notice:

| Plan | Booking notice |
|---|---|
| L.A. Care (notice of May 23, 2024) | NEMT: 2 business days, and discharges and transfers the same day. NMT: 2 business days door to door, 3 hours curb to curb. |
| Blue Shield Promise | Members call at least one business day ahead. Facilities schedule routine rides at least 24 hours before pickup, once the plan has the PCS (December 2023). |
| IEHP (NMT only, May 2026) | Members request rides at least five calendar days before a routine appointment |

Blue Shield Promise lets urgent trips for dialysis, discharges, surgery follow-up, chemotherapy, radiation, wound care, and urgent care be booked with less than 24 hours' notice. Its provider FAQ (December 2023) also explains how Call the Car runs the day:

- **Pickup window.** Call the Car plans each ride to arrive 15 minutes before the appointment, and there is typically a 15-minute window on either side of the pickup time.
- **[Will-call](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/will-call-trip/) returns.** A will-call pickup may take up to 90 minutes.
- **Shared rides.** Call the Car tries to let riders from the same facility travel together when their appointments are with the same provider around the same time. It may add riders on the way, and any rider can opt out of sharing.
- **Assistance.** On NEMT trips the driver enters the facility to escort the member. On door-to-door rides the driver helps from the front door to the van and from the van to the door of the appointment. On curb-to-curb rides the driver meets the member outside.

Late rides have backups built in. Under APL 22-008, if an NEMT ride is late or does not arrive, the plan must authorize an urgent NEMT ride so the member does not miss the appointment. If an NMT ride does not arrive at the scheduled pickup time, the plan must send another ride or let the member book one out of network and pay for it.

## How pay works

Your subcontract with Call the Car sets your rates. Medi-Cal's fee-for-service maximums are a useful reference when you read an offer. They pay your usual charge to the public, up to these amounts:

| Code | What it pays for | Fee-for-service maximum |
|---|---|---|
| [A0130](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/a0130/) | Wheelchair van trip | $20.30, or $26.43 at night (UJ) |
| A0380 | Wheelchair or litter van mile | $1.50 |
| [T2005](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/t2005/) | Litter (stretcher) van trip | $26.29, or $32.42 at night (UJ) |
| T2001 | Attendant or escort | $5.52 |
| T2007 | Waiting time, per half hour | $11.30 |
| A0120 | NMT trip | $17.65, or $23.78 at night (UJ) |
| A0390 | NMT mile | $1.30 |

These amounts are from the Medi-Cal provider manual pages updated August 2020 and September 2023. Health plans and brokers pay what their contracts say, which can be more or less. Before you sign, ask Call the Car for its rate sheet by level of service, and for its rules on mileage, waiting time, [no-shows](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/no-show/), billing deadlines, and payment timing. See [NEMT reimbursement rates](https://nemtguide.com/guides/nemt-reimbursement-rates/) and [how to bill NEMT brokers](https://nemtguide.com/guides/how-to-bill-nemt-brokers/).

## Who to contact

| Need | Where to go (September 2026) |
|---|---|
| Apply to the network | The subcontractor form on Call the Car's "Join Our Network" page |
| Subcontractor trips and paperwork | Call the Car's subcontractor portal, vendors.callthecar.com |
| Credentialing inspection | "Credentialing Inspection Sign Ups" at the bottom of Call the Car's site |
| General questions | Call the Car's contact form, answered within 2 business days |
| Report fraud, waste, abuse, or a privacy concern | (844) 595-3256, or callthecar.ethicspoint.com |
| IEHP NEMT contracting | jointhenetwork@iehp.org, or the IEHP Provider Call Center at (909) 890-2054 |
| L.A. Care provider questions | providerrelations@lacare.org |

## Frequently asked questions

### Do I need to be enrolled in Medi-Cal to drive for Call the Car?

Yes. DHCS All Plan Letter 22-008 (May 18, 2022) requires every NEMT and NMT provider in a Medi-Cal plan network to meet Medi-Cal enrollment rules. A plan may let you take trips for up to 120 days while your application is pending, but it must end the contract if DHCS denies you or the 120 days run out. Brokers that only schedule rides do not have to enroll, but every company that drives does.

### Does Call the Car still handle IEHP rides?

Only non-medical rides. IEHP's provider notice of May 11, 2026 says that starting May 12, 2026, IEHP manages all NEMT trips directly instead of through Call the Car, which keeps coordinating NMT. IEHP says it contracts with more than 60 transportation providers. For IEHP wheelchair, gurney, or ambulance work, send IEHP's ancillary contract documents to jointhenetwork@iehp.org.

### What is the difference between NEMT and NMT trips?

NEMT is a ride by wheelchair van, litter (gurney) van, or ambulance for a member whose condition rules out a car, taxi, or bus, and it needs a Physician Certification Statement the plan approves. NMT is a ride by car, taxi, bus, or rideshare for a member with no other way to get to care, and it needs no PCS. You enroll in Medi-Cal for NEMT, NMT, or both.

### How much does Medi-Cal pay for a wheelchair van trip?

In fee-for-service Medi-Cal, the maximum is $20.30 for a wheelchair van trip (A0130) plus $1.50 a mile (A0380), or $26.43 at night with the UJ modifier, in provider manual pages updated September 2023. A litter van trip (T2005) is $26.29. Health plans and brokers set their own rates, so Call the Car pays whatever your subcontract says.

### Can Call the Car change the level of service on a PCS form?

No. Under APL 22-008, the health plan approves the PCS form, and neither the plan nor its broker may change the ride type on it or downgrade a member from NEMT to NMT. The one exception is a form where the prescriber checked more than one type. Then the lowest cost type may be used. A PCS authorization lasts up to 12 months.

### Which areas does Call the Car serve?

Every plan and group on Call the Car's contact page, as of September 2026, is in California: L.A. Care in Los Angeles County, Blue Shield Promise in Los Angeles and San Diego counties, IEHP's non-medical rides in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, and ride lines for Blue Shield of California Medicare, Central California Alliance for Health, two medical groups, and the San Diego Regional Center.

## Official resources

- [Call the Car: Subcontractor application](https://callthecar.com/subcontractors/)
- [Call the Car: Health plan ride lines](https://callthecar.com/contact/)
- [DHCS PAVE: Medi-Cal provider enrollment portal](https://pave.dhcs.ca.gov/sso/login.do)
- [DHCS: All Plan Letter 22-008 on NEMT and NMT](https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/formsandpubs/Documents/MMCDAPLsandPolicyLetters/APL2022/APL22-008.pdf)
- [Medi-Cal Provider Manual: Ground transportation codes and rates](https://mcweb.apps.prd.cammis.medi-cal.ca.gov/file/manual?fn=mctrangndcd.pdf)
- [L.A. Care Health Plan: Transportation for providers](https://lacare.org/providers/utilization-management/authorizations/transportation)
- [IEHP: Join Our Network, ancillary provider contracts](https://www.providerservices.iehp.org/en/join-our-network/provider-contract-forms/ancillary)
- [HHS OIG: List of Excluded Individuals and Entities](https://oig.hhs.gov/exclusions/)