# Montana Moves Medicaid NEMT to Modivcare on October 1, 2026 Canonical URL: https://nemtguide.com/news/montana-modivcare-nemt-broker/ ยท Updated 2026-09-28 On October 1, 2026, Montana Medicaid moves its non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) program to a broker, Modivcare. The Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) announced the new contract in a provider notice dated July 9, 2026. Modivcare takes over provider enrollment, trip scheduling, and billing, work now split between Mountain Pacific Quality Health and the state's claims contractor, Conduent. DPHHS says every NEMT provider must enroll with Modivcare to keep giving Medicaid rides after October 1. ## Key dates | Date | What happens | |---|---| | July 9, 2026 | DPHHS provider notice announces the Modivcare contract, with an anticipated start of October 1, 2026 | | July 21, 2026 | Modivcare presents the new program on the DPHHS monthly Medicaid call for tribal and Indian Health Service providers | | September 1, 2026 | Soft go-live: the member, provider, and facility lines open, and members can book rides for October 1 or later | | October 1, 2026 | Full go-live: first Modivcare rides and the complete switch | ## What changes on October 1 | Task | Before October 1, 2026 | From October 1, 2026 | |---|---|---| | Joining the program | Enroll as a Montana Medicaid provider through Conduent | Enroll with Modivcare, which subcontracts with transportation providers directly | | Trip approval | The Mountain Pacific Medicaid Transportation Center must approve every trip. For commercial trips, it faxes the provider a list of approved transports with the prior authorization number to bill with. | Members book with Modivcare. Prior authorization is needed only for trips over 100 miles one way or 200 miles round trip, out-of-state travel, meals and lodging, and attendant costs. | | Billing | Electronic or CMS-1500 claims to Montana Medicaid, due within 12 months of the date of service | Claims go to Modivcare through its portals or electronic data feeds | | Payment | Paid through the state claims system | DPHHS says clean claims are paid by electronic funds transfer or mailed check within seven days of batch processing | | Member reservation line | (800) 292-7114, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain Time on weekdays | Same number, open 24 hours a day | Prior authorization reviews for long trips are done by the DPHHS NEMT program officer and coordinated through Modivcare. DPHHS lists fewer prior authorizations, faster payment, and the 24-hour line among its goals for the new program. The 2026 annual report of its Medicaid advisory committees says DPHHS will also focus on recruiting providers to improve access in rural areas. ## Who it affects The July 9 notice is addressed to personal and commercial transportation, specialized non-emergency transportation, and NEMT providers: - **Commercial transportation providers**, such as taxis and buses that carry Medicaid members. - **Specialized non-emergency transportation providers**, which run wheelchair vans and stretcher vans. - **Personal transportation**, where a member, friend, or relative drives and gets mileage paid. Under the new program, members get a trip ID from Modivcare for each trip, and their medical provider must sign to confirm the appointment. Reimbursement requests for trips under 100 miles one way can be sent up to 30 days after the appointment. Clinics, hospitals, and dialysis centers now book rides through Modivcare too, either on its facility line or in its facility portal. Member eligibility does not change. ## How to keep driving Montana Medicaid rides 1. **Call Modivcare's Montana provider line.** The Transportation Provider Line is (866) 726-1471. DPHHS says Modivcare is reaching out to current providers with enrollment steps, and new providers enroll with Modivcare as well. 2. **Send your enrollment file.** Modivcare's general provider page lists what it checks: a PASS wheelchair certificate, First Aid and CPR, defensive driving, drug screening, a motor vehicle report, and a background check for drivers; current registration, and inspection where the state requires it, for vehicles; and general liability, sexual abuse and molestation, auto, and workers' compensation insurance. Ask the Montana team for its exact list and limits. Our [broker credentialing guide](https://nemtguide.com/guides/nemt-broker-credentialing/) shows how to build the file. 3. **Get set up on the provider app.** DPHHS says transportation providers get a digital app for ride tracking and for confirming appointments by geofencing. 4. **Finish your old claims.** For trips before October 1, ask Montana Provider Relations at (800) 624-3958 how to bill. Under the current manual, Medicaid claims are due within 12 months of the date of service, and you bill only trips the Transportation Center approved. 5. **Move your regular riders over.** Standing orders go through Modivcare now. Its facility tools let a clinic set up recurring trips one to five days a week for up to 90 days at a time. Ask each dialysis center you serve to put its standing orders in with Modivcare. See NEMT standing orders. 6. **Read your subcontract.** Your agreement with Modivcare sets how you submit trips for payment. Our guide to [billing NEMT brokers](https://nemtguide.com/guides/how-to-bill-nemt-brokers/) covers what to check in a broker agreement. DPHHS names rural access as a focus of the new program, and long rural trips with empty miles shape your margins. Our [rural NEMT guide](https://nemtguide.com/guides/rural-nemt/) covers how to plan them. ## Who to contact | For | Contact | |---|---| | Joining the Modivcare network in Montana | Modivcare Transportation Provider Line, (866) 726-1471 | | Facilities booking rides | Modivcare Facility Line, (866) 726-1469 | | Members booking rides or mileage | Modivcare Member Reservation Line, (800) 292-7114, 24 hours a day | | Enrollment questions about the new program | Bridget Evans, DPHHS NEMT Program Officer, (406) 444-3337, bridget.evans@mt.gov | | Claims under the current program | Montana Provider Relations, (800) 624-3958 or (406) 442-1837 | For the full switch checklist, see when your state changes NEMT brokers. Our [Modivcare provider guide](https://nemtguide.com/brokers/modivcare/) covers the company across its other states, and our Montana state guide covers licensing, vehicles, and insurance.