# How to Become a Provide A Ride Transportation Provider in 2027

Canonical URL: https://nemtguide.com/brokers/provide-a-ride/ · Updated 2026-09-28

To become a Provide A Ride transportation provider, complete its online Transportation Provider Questionnaire with your EIN, NPI, fleet, pickup counties, and insurance certificates. Provide A Ride, based in Cleveland, arranges CareSource's Ohio Medicaid rides and UnitedHealthcare's stretcher and ambulance rides. It picks new partners by network need and location, and wheelchair vans need an Ohio ambulette license.

- Provide A Ride picks partners based on network needs, operations, experience, and location, so a complete application is not a guaranteed contract.
- Its questionnaire asks for your EIN and NPI, your Ohio Medicaid ID if you have one, and certificates for auto and general liability.
- The questionnaire checks for auto liability of at least $500,000 combined single limit and general liability of $500,000 per occurrence and $1,000,000 aggregate.
- Wheelchair vans need an Ohio ambulette license and a permit for each van from the State Board of Emergency Medical, Fire, and Transportation Services.
- Ohio leaves plan-arranged trip rates to your contract, so compare any offer with the state rates, such as $31.00 plus $1.30 a mile for a wheelchair van.

Provide A Ride is a Cleveland company that runs the ride benefit for Ohio Medicaid health plans and also drives riders in its own vehicles. As of September 2026, it says it has operated in Ohio since 1989, runs a fleet of more than 100 vehicles, and manages transportation for more than 1.8 million Ohio Medicaid and Medicare members, with more than 2 million trips a year. It serves the whole state, operates 24 hours a day, and is accredited by the Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Accreditation Commission (NEMTAC).

A health plan pays Provide A Ride to manage its ride benefit, and Provide A Ride books each trip. Besides its own fleet and contracted partners, it lists public transit, mileage reimbursement, independent contractors, and rideshare among the service models it uses. Your company competes with those options for trips, so the counties you cover and the vehicles you run matter. For how brokers fit into Medicaid, see [what a NEMT broker is](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/nemt-broker/).

## Which Ohio health plans use Provide A Ride

As of September 2026, these programs are confirmed by the health plan or by Provide A Ride:

| Health plan | Program | What goes through Provide A Ride | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| CareSource | Ohio Medicaid | Member rides. Provide A Ride replaced Modivcare on May 1, 2021. | CareSource provider manual and its April 30, 2021 notice |
| CareSource | Next Generation MyCare (Medicare and Medicaid) | Facility bookings through Provide A Ride's facility line and request portal | CareSource MyCare provider page, September 2026 |
| UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Ohio | Ohio Medicaid | Non-emergency stretcher and ambulance rides, and UnitedHealthcare Ohio is a choice on Provide A Ride's ride request page | UnitedHealthcare 2026 Ohio provider manual |

Some other Ohio Medicaid plans use a different broker. As of September 2026, Humana Healthy Horizons in Ohio, AmeriHealth Caritas Ohio, and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield send their Medicaid members to [MTM Health](https://nemtguide.com/brokers/mtm-health/). To reach those riders you need a separate contract. See working with more than one NEMT broker.

Ohio also runs a county program. Each county department of job and family services arranges rides that a member's health plan does not have to provide, and it may use contracted livery service, prepaid transit fares, or fuel vouchers (Ohio Administrative Code 5160-15-10). A county contract is a separate path from Provide A Ride. The [Ohio state guide](https://nemtguide.com/states/ohio/) covers both.

### What rides Ohio plans must cover

Ohio's health plan comparison for 2027, last updated July 1, 2026, lists the floor for every plan. Plans cover necessary rides by ambulance or wheelchair van at any distance. They cover rides by standard vehicle when the nearest network provider is at least 30 miles away, and at any distance for OhioRISE members. Plans then add their own extra trips:

- **CareSource, from April 15, 2026.** Up to 15 round trips or 30 one-way trips a calendar year for rides under 30 miles. Trips are unlimited for dialysis, prenatal and postpartum care, parents visiting a baby in the NICU, hospital admission or discharge, and child wellness and EPSDT visits. Wheelchair van trips do not count toward the limit.
- **UnitedHealthcare, 2026 manual.** Up to 30 one-way or 15 round trips a year to primary care, WIC, the pharmacy, and other participating providers. Members can ask for more, reviewed for medical necessity.

These limits shape your volume. Wheelchair and long-distance trips keep coming all year, while short ambulatory trips depend on each member's remaining extra rides. See levels of service for how brokers sort trips.

## How to apply to Provide A Ride

Provide A Ride takes applications through an online Transportation Provider Questionnaire linked from its partner page. You must complete every section, and only complete applications are accepted.

1. **Check your fit.** Provide A Ride selects new partners based on network needs, operational capabilities, experience, and location. The questionnaire asks about your fleet, your pickup counties, and the brokers you have worked with.
2. **Gather your files first.** You upload a current auto liability certificate and a current general liability certificate. Wheelchair companies upload the Ohio EMS certificate for wheelchair service, and ambulance companies upload the one for ambulance service.
3. **Complete company information.** Legal name, DBA, business address, EIN, NPI, and your Ohio Medicaid ID if you have one. Then years providing NEMT, years under current ownership, any prior names, and your yearly count of one-way trips.
4. **List your safety checks.** Mark which of these you already do: annual criminal background checks, annual motor vehicle record checks, pre-hire drug screening, defensive driving, passenger assistance and sensitivity training, wheelchair operation and securement training, annual sex and violent offender checks, and exclusion checks against the [OIG](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/oig-exclusion-list/), SAM, and Medicaid lists. Wheelchair companies also mark in-person first aid and CPR.
5. **Describe your operation.** Days and hours you run, dispatch hours if they differ, the counties where you pick up the first leg of a round trip, your scheduling software, and how you monitor on-time, safe service.
6. **Describe your fleet.** Your vehicle base and any other parking locations, total vehicles and how many park at the base each night, ambulatory and wheelchair counts, any ambulances and their crews, the make, model, and year of your oldest vehicle, and whether you have cameras and GPS.
7. **Answer the insurance and history questions.** Carrier names and limits, workers' compensation, and whether your drivers are W-2 employees, 1099 contractors, or both. You also answer whether your company or any owner has had a Medicaid contract ended for cause, been excluded from a federal health program, or been part of a fraud or abuse investigation.
8. **Submit and wait for Provider Relations.** The questionnaire goes to Provide A Ride's Provider Relations team. If it wants to move forward, ask for the contract, the rate schedule, and the full credentialing list before you sign.

Keep a folder with every document before you start. The [NEMT credentialing checklist](https://nemtguide.com/templates/nemt-credentialing-checklist/) and [NEMT broker credentialing](https://nemtguide.com/guides/nemt-broker-credentialing/) cover what to gather.

## What Provide A Ride requires

From its partner page and questionnaire, as of September 2026:

| Area | What Provide A Ride asks for |
|---|---|
| Vehicles | Well maintained vehicles that meet all vehicle standards, with a count of ambulatory, wheelchair, and ambulance units |
| Drivers | Well trained professional drivers, with the screening and training checks listed in the questionnaire |
| Service | Safe, efficient, and timely service |
| Auto liability | Questionnaire checks for a combined single limit of at least $500,000 |
| General liability | Questionnaire checks for at least $500,000 per occurrence and $1,000,000 aggregate |
| Workers' compensation | Yes, no, or exempt, with an explanation if you answer no or exempt |
| Licenses | Ohio EMS certificate for wheelchair service and for ambulance service, if you run those vehicles |
| Reporting | Responses to customer complaints, accident and incident reports, and regulatory reports, sent on time and correct |

Provide A Ride warns that its reporting requirements can change in nature and frequency. Its partner page lists helpful links, including the Community Transportation Association of America's PASS course and the National Safety Council's defensive driving course. For a full list of coverage types, see [NEMT insurance requirements](https://nemtguide.com/guides/nemt-insurance-requirements/).

## Ohio rules for wheelchair vans on Provide A Ride trips

Ohio law calls a wheelchair van an ambulette: a vehicle designed or equipped to carry people who need a wheelchair or other mobility aid (Ohio Revised Code 4766.01). Ohio's Medicaid transportation rules require each vehicle to meet the permit rules under that chapter (Ohio Administrative Code 5160-15-21). The State Board of Emergency Medical, Fire, and Transportation Services, in the Division of EMS at the Ohio Department of Public Safety, licenses each ambulette service and permits each van.

| Rule | What Ohio requires |
|---|---|
| Application | Filed online in the board's Medical Transportation Licensing System (MTLS), with your EIN, owners, counties served, every driver and hire date, and each van's year, make, model, VIN, and a color photo |
| Fees | $100 a year for the service license, $50 a year per van for the permit, $50 a year per van for the inspection, and $50 for each reinspection |
| Liability insurance | At least $500,000 per occurrence and $500,000 aggregate |
| Vehicle insurance | At least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $50,000 for property damage |
| Certificate | Lists the board as certificate holder with 30 days' notice of cancellation, and lists every permitted van by VIN unless it covers any auto or all owned autos |
| Drivers | At least 18 with two years of driving experience, a state driving abstract no more than 14 days old when they apply and every year after, and fewer than six points |
| Driver checks | An Ohio BCI background check, or an FBI check for anyone who has not lived in Ohio for the last five years, a medical statement or DOT physical, and a drug and alcohol test, repeated after any accident they drove in |
| Training | Hands-on CPR and first aid, and a passenger assistance course with [wheelchair securement](https://nemtguide.com/guides/wheelchair-securement/) at least every three years |
| Vehicles | Ambulette plates, your name on both sides in 3-inch letters and on the back in 1.5-inch letters, a lift or ramp, four-point wheelchair fasteners, and the permit decal on the right rear window |
| Equipment | Fire extinguisher, blanket, disinfectants, oxygen equipment, isolation equipment, and first aid equipment |
| Door clearance | At least 56 inches above the raised lift or ramp for vans 22 feet or shorter, and 68 inches for longer vans |
| Records | A record for each trip with the rider, addresses, arrival times, driver, and vehicle number, kept for seven years |
| Changes | Ownership, officer, EIN, and contact changes reported in MTLS before or within 10 days after the change |

These fees and limits come from Ohio Administrative Code chapter 4766-3 and Revised Code 4766.06, in the versions in effect in September 2026. New drivers can work on a provisional basis for up to 60 days while their CPR, first aid, training, and background check are completed, and up to 14 days for the license, driving abstract, medical statement, drug test, and ID card. Use the [vehicle inspection checklist](https://nemtguide.com/templates/nemt-vehicle-inspection-checklist/) before the state inspector arrives, and see [starting a wheelchair transportation business](https://nemtguide.com/guides/start-a-wheelchair-transportation-business/) for the rest of the setup.

## How Provide A Ride sends trips and pays

Members book rides with their health plan or with Provide A Ride, and Provide A Ride assigns them. As of September 2026, Provide A Ride takes ride requests at (888) 288-7050, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and through its member app. Facilities booking for CareSource members use the facility line at 1-833-297-3064 or a provider transportation request portal that CareSource launched on January 1, 2022. Provide A Ride says it runs a driver and passenger app and web portals for providers and customers, so ask which tools your drivers must use.

Booking notice sets how far ahead your schedule fills:

| Plan | Members book at least |
|---|---|
| CareSource Ohio Medicaid | Two business days before the visit, with same-day rides for hospital discharges, urgent care, and urgent provider visits |
| UnitedHealthcare, standard rides | 48 hours before the appointment |
| UnitedHealthcare, stretcher and ambulance | 48 business hours ahead, and up to 30 days ahead |

Your rate comes from your contract. Ohio's payment rule, effective August 1, 2026, says transportation furnished under an arrangement with a Medicaid health plan is paid under the provider agreement, not the state fee schedule (Ohio Administrative Code 5160-15-28). The state's fee-for-service maximums are still a useful benchmark when you review an offer:

| Code | Service | Ohio Medicaid maximum | Last changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| [A0130](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/a0130/) | Wheelchair van trip | $31.00 | January 1, 2024 |
| [S0209](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/s0209/) | Wheelchair van mileage | $1.30 per mile | January 1, 2024 |
| [T2001](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/t2001/) | Wheelchair van attendant | $15.00 | January 1, 2024 |
| A0428 | Basic life support, non-emergency | $203.75 | January 1, 2024 |
| A0425 | Ground ambulance mileage | $5.05 per mile | January 1, 2024 |

Ohio Medicaid's documentation rule, effective August 1, 2026, lists what each transportation provider keeps for every trip: the vehicle used, any wheelchair van attendant, the rider's Medicaid ID, and for non-emergency trips the rider's signature (Ohio Administrative Code 5160-15-27). Payment is not made for a service without the needed documentation. Record every time, odometer reading, and signature on a [trip log](https://nemtguide.com/templates/nemt-trip-log-template/), and see [how to bill NEMT brokers](https://nemtguide.com/guides/how-to-bill-nemt-brokers/) and how to negotiate broker rates.

## Do you need an Ohio Medicaid ID?

Provide A Ride's questionnaire asks for your NPI, and for your Ohio Medicaid ID if you have one. Get your NPI from NPPES first; see [how to get an NPI number for NEMT](https://nemtguide.com/guides/how-to-get-an-npi-number-for-nemt/).

Two rules point toward enrolling with Ohio Medicaid as well. Ohio's transportation rules list a provider under contract with a Medicaid health plan as an eligible provider of transportation (Ohio Administrative Code 5160-15-21), and Ohio defines an eligible provider as one approved by the Ohio Department of Medicaid with a signed provider agreement and a Medicaid provider number (5160-1-17). Federal rules also require every state to screen and enroll all network providers of its Medicaid health plans, and let a plan sign a provider for up to 120 days while that enrollment is pending ([42 CFR 438.602](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/section-438.602)). Ask Provide A Ride's Provider Relations team whether you need an Ohio Medicaid ID before your first trip. See [how to become a Medicaid transportation provider](https://nemtguide.com/guides/how-to-become-a-medicaid-transportation-provider/).

## Who to contact at Provide A Ride

| For | Contact |
|---|---|
| Applying to join | The Transportation Provider Questionnaire, linked from providearide.com/become-a-transportation-partner |
| Contracting questions | The contact form at providearide.com/contact, choosing "I'm interested in contracting for services" |
| Main office | 4299 Cranwood Parkway, Cleveland, Ohio 44128, (888) 288-7050 |
| Facility bookings for CareSource members | 1-833-297-3064 (TTY 711) |
| Facility portal access | transportationportalaccess@providearide.com |
| UnitedHealthcare transportation line | 1-800-269-4190 |

Before you reach out, have your EIN, NPI, insurance certificates, county list, and vehicle and driver counts ready. Ask which counties and vehicle types Provide A Ride needs now, what its contract pays by trip type, and whether you need an Ohio Medicaid ID. For more on plan-run ride programs, see contracting with Medicaid health plans for transportation.

## Frequently asked questions

### Which health plans use Provide A Ride in Ohio?

As of September 2026, CareSource sends its Ohio Medicaid members' rides through Provide A Ride, as it has since May 1, 2021, and its MyCare provider page lists the same facility line. UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Ohio's 2026 provider manual names Provide A Ride for non-emergency stretcher and ambulance rides, and Provide A Ride's ride request page lists UnitedHealthcare Ohio. Humana, AmeriHealth Caritas Ohio, and Anthem send their Medicaid members to MTM Health.

### What insurance does Provide A Ride require?

As of September 2026, its questionnaire asks whether your auto liability combined single limit is at least $500,000, whether your general liability is at least $500,000 per occurrence and $1,000,000 aggregate, and whether you carry workers' compensation. You upload both liability certificates. Wheelchair van companies must also meet Ohio's ambulette law: $500,000 liability per occurrence and vehicle coverage of at least $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident, and $50,000 for property damage.

### Do I need an ambulette license to join Provide A Ride?

For wheelchair trips, yes. The questionnaire asks you to upload your Ohio EMS certificate for wheelchair service if you run wheelchair vehicles, and the one for ambulance service if you run ambulances. Ohio's State Board of Emergency Medical, Fire, and Transportation Services charges $100 a year for an ambulette service license, plus $50 per van for the permit and $50 per van for the yearly inspection.

### How much does Provide A Ride pay per trip?

Your rate is set in your contract. Ohio's transportation payment rule says that when a service is furnished under an arrangement with a Medicaid health plan, payment follows the provider agreement, not the state fee schedule. As a benchmark, Ohio's fee-for-service maximums in the appendix effective August 1, 2026 are $31.00 per wheelchair van trip, $1.30 per mile, and $15.00 for a wheelchair van attendant.

### Does Provide A Ride accept every company that applies?

No. Its partner page says not all who apply will be accepted, and that it selects new partners based on network needs, operational capabilities, experience, and location. It accepts only complete applications. Have your certificates, fleet counts, and county list ready before you start so your questionnaire is complete the first time.

### How do clinics and hospitals book Provide A Ride trips?

As of September 2026, facilities booking for CareSource members call Provide A Ride's facility line at 1-833-297-3064 (TTY 711) or use its provider transportation request portal. Access to the portal is requested at transportationportalaccess@providearide.com. CareSource members book through CareSource member services at least two business days ahead, and can get same-day rides for hospital discharges and urgent visits.

## Official resources

- [Provide A Ride: Become a transportation partner and application](https://providearide.com/become-a-transportation-partner/)
- [Provide A Ride: Contact form (choose contracting for services)](https://providearide.com/contact/)
- [CareSource: Ohio Medicaid provider manual](https://www.caresource.com/documents/oh-provider-manual.pdf)
- [UnitedHealthcare Community Plan: 2026 Ohio Medicaid care provider manual](https://www.uhcprovider.com/content/dam/provider/docs/public/admin-guides/comm-plan/OH-Care-Provider-Manual.pdf)
- [Ohio Administrative Code: Chapter 4766-3, Ambulettes](https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-administrative-code/chapter-4766-3)
- [Ohio Administrative Code: Chapter 5160-15, Healthcare-related transportation](https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-administrative-code/chapter-5160-15)
- [Ohio Administrative Code: Transportation maximum payments (appendix to rule 5160-15-28)](https://codes.ohio.gov/assets/laws/administrative-code/pdfs/5160/0/15/5160-15-28_PH_FF_A_APP2_20260710_1407.pdf)
- [Ohio Medicaid Consumer Hotline: 2027 health plan comparison](https://ohfiles.blob.core.windows.net/public/OhioMHWebsite/Documents/2027%20Managed%20Care%20Health%20Plan%20Comparison%20Guide.pdf)
- [HHS OIG: List of Excluded Individuals and Entities](https://oig.hhs.gov/exclusions/)
- [CMS: NPPES, apply for or update an NPI](https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov/)