Billing and claims
NEMT Taxonomy Codes: Which Code to Pick on Your NPI, State by State
A NEMT taxonomy code is the 10-character code on your NPI record that tells Medicaid and brokers what kind of provider you are. The usual code for van companies is 343900000X, Non-emergency Medical Transport (VAN). Check your state's list first: Illinois pairs wheelchair van claims with 343800000X, Secured Medical Transport (VAN), and Texas recommends that code for demand response providers.
- Your taxonomy code describes what kind of provider you are. You pick it yourself in NPPES and mark one code as primary.
- 343900000X, Non-emergency Medical Transport (VAN), is the usual code for ambulatory and wheelchair van companies.
- States map codes to their own provider types, and a few point van services to 343800000X instead. Check your state before you apply.
- Payers use the code to match your NPI to your enrollment. A code on a claim that is not on your enrollment can get the claim denied.
- On the CMS-1500, the code goes in box 33b after the qualifier ZZ, with no space between them.
Your taxonomy code is the part of your NPI record that says what kind of provider you are. Medicaid agencies and brokers use it to match your NPI to the right enrollment, and some deny a claim when the code on it does not match. Choosing the right code takes a few minutes, and a wrong one can hold up your claims.
What a taxonomy code is
A taxonomy code is a 10-character code from the Health Care Provider Taxonomy Code Set, kept by the National Uniform Claim Committee (NUCC). NUCC publishes the set twice a year, in January and July, and each release takes effect three months later, on April 1 or October 1. As of September 2026, the current version is 26.1, published July 1, 2026. Every NEMT code sits in its Transportation Services group.
You choose your own code when you apply for an NPI in NPPES. CMS tells applicants to pick the code that most closely describes their provider type. You may select more than one, but you must mark one as primary.
The code describes you. It does not license you, and like the NPI itself it does not enroll you with Medicaid or any broker. What it does is help payers find the right record. Texas matches the taxonomy code on each electronic claim to the codes on your enrollment, and North Carolina requires a taxonomy code for the billing provider on every claim except pharmacy. For the full NPI application, see how to get an NPI number for NEMT.
The transportation taxonomy codes
These are the codes in version 26.1 that NEMT companies and their partners use. The plain meanings follow the code set’s own definitions.
| Code | Name in the code set | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| 343900000X | Non-emergency Medical Transport (VAN) | A land vehicle able to meet special height, clearance, access, and seating needs for non-emergency rides. It may or may not have to meet local, county, or state rules. |
| 343800000X | Secured Medical Transport (VAN) | Vehicles equipped for extra safety, security, and restraint, staffed by people trained to work with riders in a mental health or substance use crisis |
| 344600000X | Taxi | A commercial vehicle for non-emergency rides that meets local, county, or state rules |
| 347C00000X | Private Vehicle | A person paid to give non-emergency rides in their own owned or leased vehicle |
| 342000000X | Transportation Network Company | A rideshare company giving prearranged NEMT rides through an app or website |
| 347B00000X | Bus | A public or private organization licensed to run bus service |
| 347D00000X | Train | A licensed passenger train service, including light rail and subway |
| 347E00000X | Transportation Broker | An organization that provides rides to medical care for people with no other way to get there, including wheelchair van, taxi, stretcher car, bus passes, and secured transport |
| 3416L0300X | Ambulance, Land Transport | Ground ambulance service |
| 172A00000X | Driver | A person employed to drive people or property. It sits in the code set’s other service providers group, not in Transportation Services. |
Two things are missing from the list. There is no code just for wheelchair vans and none just for stretcher vans. Both are van services, and your state’s provider type decides which van code fits. The billing codes on each trip, such as A0130 or T2005, then show the level of service.
Which code your state expects
States link each Medicaid provider type to one or more taxonomy codes, and they do not all make the same choice for vans. Here is what five state lists say.
| State and source | Ambulatory and wheelchair vans | Secure transport | Taxi, private vehicle, rideshare |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina, NCTracks matrix (August 16, 2026) | 343900000X, moderate risk, with a site visit and the federal fee | 343800000X, limited risk | Taxi 344600000X; private vehicle 347C00000X; rideshare 342000000X |
| Texas, Medical Transportation Program handbook (September 2026) | 343800000X recommended for demand response transportation providers | Not listed separately | 347C00000X for individual transportation participants and rideshare companies |
| Illinois, HFS 837P taxonomy table (April 2025) | Service car with A0120: 343900000X. Medicar (wheelchair van) with A0130: 343800000X | Not listed separately | Taxi 344600000X; private auto 347C00000X |
| North Dakota, provider type list (June 2023) | 343900000X (specialty 386) | 343800000X (specialty 388) | Taxi 344600000X; private vehicle 347C00000X |
| Ohio, waiver provider guide (August 2020) | 343900000X for non-medical transportation | Not listed | Private vehicle 347C00000X; individual drivers 172A00000X |
What each state adds:
- North Carolina asks every NEMT van applicant for a NEMT Driver Attestation form signed by the office administrator. Secure transport companies add a signed attestation on letterhead that all staff are trained to work with riders in crisis, plus proof of insurance on every van. Taxis need proof of vehicle registration, and rideshare companies need a copy of a broker or health plan contract.
- Texas fills your taxonomy choices from your NPPES record. The same handbook also lists 347C00000X among the codes for all MTP claims, so confirm the code on your enrollment with TMHP at 1-800-925-9126 before you bill.
- Illinois uses the code to decide the category of service on a claim, so a wheelchair van claim and an ambulatory claim point to different codes.
If your state is not here, look for a provider type and taxonomy crosswalk in its provider manual, or ask the enrollment office. Where a broker runs your rides, ask the broker too. The NEMT broker credentialing guide lists what brokers collect.
Where the taxonomy code goes on a claim
Each claim format has a set place for the code.
| Where | What to enter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| CMS-1500, box 33b | The qualifier ZZ, then your billing taxonomy code, with no space or hyphen | ZZ343900000X |
| CMS-1500, boxes 24I and 24J | ZZ in 24I and the rendering provider’s code in the shaded part of 24J | ZZ, then 343900000X |
| 837P electronic claim | A billing provider PRV segment with the qualifier PXC | PRV*BI*PXC*343900000X~ |
The NUCC claim form manual (version 13.0, July 2025) sets the ZZ qualifier for paper claims, while electronic claims use PXC. States then adjust. Arizona’s CMS-1500 chapter (revised May 31, 2023) asks for the taxonomy in the shaded part of 24J with ZZ in 24I. Texas asks its Medical Transportation Program providers for the taxonomy in box 33b. The CMS-1500 guide walks through every box, and billing provider vs rendering provider explains which code goes where when your company bills for its drivers.
How to choose, add, or change your code
- Find your state’s list. Ask your Medicaid agency or broker which provider type and taxonomy code fit each service you run.
- Set the primary code in NPPES. In the taxonomy section, choose the code, mark it primary, and add a license number and state if your state licenses NEMT companies.
- Add a code for each other service. A company that runs vans and secure transport lists 343900000X and 343800000X.
- Update your Medicaid enrollment. Texas pulls taxonomy choices from NPPES, so change NPPES first, then refresh the record in its enrollment system.
- Report changes within 30 days. HIPAA requires covered providers to update their NPI data within 30 days (45 CFR 162.410), and the NPI form lets you delete codes you no longer use.
- Bill with the code on your enrollment. Put the same code on every claim, and check it against your approval letter.
Common taxonomy mistakes
- Picking the broker code. 347E00000X is the Transportation Broker code. North Carolina asks anyone enrolling under it for a contract with a Medicaid health plan, so a company that drives its own trips should not pick it.
- Picking an ambulance code for a van. North Carolina requires an emergency medical services license for its ambulance taxonomies.
- A claim code that is not on your enrollment. Texas matches the taxonomy on each electronic claim to your attestation record.
- Changing NPPES without updating Medicaid. Texas fills its taxonomy choices from NPPES and asks you to refresh your enrollment after a change.
- Choosing by the name alone. Illinois’s claim table pairs wheelchair van claims with a code named for secured transport. Your state’s list, not the code’s name, decides.
If you are still setting up, get your Medicaid enrollment and your code in line at the same time. See what a Medicaid provider number is for the number your state gives you once it approves you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the taxonomy code for a NEMT company?
For van companies it is usually 343900000X, Non-emergency Medical Transport (VAN). The national code set (version 26.1, published July 1, 2026) defines it as a land vehicle able to meet special height, clearance, access, and seating needs for non-emergency rides. North Carolina and North Dakota list it for NEMT vans. Illinois and Texas point some van services to 343800000X, so check your state's list first.
Is there a separate taxonomy code for wheelchair vans or stretcher vans?
No. The code set has one code for non-emergency vans, 343900000X, and one for secured vans, 343800000X. It has no code just for wheelchair or stretcher service. Your state's provider type and specialty decide which van code fits, and your billing codes, such as A0130 or T2005, show the level of service on each trip.
Can a NEMT company have more than one taxonomy code?
Yes. CMS lets you select more than one code on your NPI record, but you must mark one as primary. List a code for each kind of service you run, such as 343900000X for vans and 343800000X for secure transport. You can change which code is primary later, and delete codes you no longer use.
Does my taxonomy code have to match my Medicaid enrollment?
In many states, yes. Texas says the taxonomy code in an electronic claim must match a code in your enrollment attestation record, and it fills your choices from your NPPES record. North Carolina requires a taxonomy code for the billing provider on all claims except pharmacy.
Where does the taxonomy code go on a CMS-1500?
In box 33b, as the qualifier ZZ followed by the code, with no space or hyphen, such as ZZ343900000X. For a rendering provider it goes in the shaded part of box 24J, with ZZ in box 24I. On an electronic 837P claim, the billing provider's code goes in a PRV segment with the qualifier PXC. Your state manual may change these rules.
How do I change my taxonomy code?
Sign in to NPPES, open your record, and add, delete, or change the primary code in the taxonomy section. HIPAA requires covered providers to update their NPI data within 30 days of a change. Then update your Medicaid enrollment and each broker, because they keep their own records. Texas asks you to refresh your taxonomy in its enrollment system after you change NPPES.