# How to Start a NEMT Business in Tennessee (2027)

Canonical URL: https://nemtguide.com/states/tennessee/ · Updated 2026-09-29

To start a NEMT business in Tennessee, form your company with the Secretary of State, get an NPI, and register with TennCare for a Medicaid ID. Then apply to both TennCare ride brokers: Verida for BlueCare and TennCare Select, and Tennessee Carriers for UnitedHealthcare and Wellpoint. Drivers need a for-hire (F) endorsement or a CDL and 32 hours of training, and stretcher vans need a Department of Health license.

- TennCare rides go through two brokers chosen by the health plans, so an agreement with both Verida and Tennessee Carriers reaches every TennCare rider near you.
- Register with TennCare for a Medicaid ID before you apply. No TennCare health plan or broker can contract with a company that lacks one.
- TennCare's health plan contract sets the floor for every provider: 32 hours of driver training, a yearly vehicle inspection, and $1 million in auto liability.
- Workers' compensation is required in every TennCare provider agreement, even before you reach the five employees that state law counts.
- The brokers set your rates. TennCare holds the plans to claim payment deadlines, and TennCare Oversight takes complaints from transportation providers for free.

## Tennessee NEMT at a glance

| Fact | Details |
| --- | --- |
| Medicaid agency | Division of TennCare, in the Department of Finance and Administration. It pays BlueCare, UnitedHealthcare, and Wellpoint a monthly rate per member, and each plan pays for its riders. |
| How rides work | Each TennCare health plan uses one ride broker for its members in all three grand regions: East, Middle, and West Tennessee |
| Medicaid brokers | Verida for BlueCare, TennCare Select, and BlueCare Plus. Tennessee Carriers for UnitedHealthcare and Wellpoint. Both as of September 2026. |
| How to join | Register on the TennCare provider portal for a Medicaid ID, then apply to each broker: Verida's Request for Qualifications and the Tennessee Carriers transporter form |
| State registration | A TennCare Medicaid ID for every company. Drivers need a for-hire (F) endorsement or a CDL. Stretcher vans need a Department of Health invalid service license and vehicle permits. |
| Insurance | TennCare's plan contract: $1 million auto per occurrence, $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate general liability, and workers' compensation for every provider |
| Drivers | At least 18 with an F endorsement or CDL, a physical and drug test, 32 hours of training, no DUI in 10 years, and no reckless driving in 36 months |
| Vehicle inspections | The broker inspects each van and sedan before service and at least once a year. The Department of Health permits each stretcher vehicle, renewed every July 1. |
| Pay | The broker sets your rate in its agreement. TennCare requires 90 percent of clean NEMT claims processed in 30 days and 99.5 percent in 60 days. |
| EVV | NEMT is not on the list. TennCare EVV covers home health, private duty nursing, personal care, and CHOICES and ECF CHOICES home services. |

Tennessee runs Medicaid rides through its health plans. TennCare pays each plan to cover its members, and each plan hires a ride broker: Verida for BlueCare and TennCare Select, and Tennessee Carriers for UnitedHealthcare and Wellpoint. You register with TennCare for a Medicaid ID first, then apply to the brokers. The rules below follow the NEMT section (Attachment XI) of TennCare's statewide health plan contract, in the version with Amendment 25, effective July 1, 2026.

## How Medicaid rides work in Tennessee

TennCare is Tennessee's Medicaid program, run by the Division of TennCare in the Department of Finance and Administration. It covers about 1.4 million members in 2026. Members get their care through BlueCare Tennessee, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, Wellpoint (formerly Amerigroup), or TennCare Select. TennCare pays BlueCare, UnitedHealthcare, and Wellpoint a monthly [capitation](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/capitation/) payment for each member, and each plan keeps its own fee schedules and provider contracts. See [managed care organization](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/managed-care-organization/).

Each plan is responsible for its members' rides and uses one broker for all of them. TennCare's ride sheet (revised June 2026) and hospital discharge sheet (revised November 2025) list:

| Health plan | Broker |
|---|---|
| BlueCare Tennessee | Verida |
| TennCare Select | Verida |
| BlueCare Plus (Medicare plan) | Verida |
| UnitedHealthcare Community Plan and Dual Complete | Tennessee Carriers |
| Wellpoint Medicaid and Medicare Advantage | Tennessee Carriers |

Every plan serves all three of TennCare's grand regions, so both brokers need providers in every county:

| Region | Counties | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| West | 21 | Shelby, Madison, Tipton, Dyer |
| Middle | 39 | Davidson, Rutherford, Montgomery, Williamson |
| East | 35 | Knox, Hamilton, Sullivan, Washington |

TennCare counts Franklin County in East Tennessee. Members change plans during their region's yearly window, March in the West, May in Middle Tennessee, and July in the East, and a March change starts May 1. The broker changes with the plan, so check each rider's plan before you bill.

### Who qualifies and how rides are booked

A member qualifies when they are eligible on the day of the trip, have no other way to get there, and are going to a service TennCare covers. The ride is free and shared. Members book at least two business days ahead, with no limit on how far ahead. A standing order covers a series of visits to the same provider, such as dialysis, with eligibility checked before each pickup.

Urgent trips skip the two-day rule. Hospital and crisis stabilization unit discharges, facility-to-facility transfers, same-day behavioral health visits, and dialysis the broker confirms as urgent must be picked up within 3 hours of the request in urban areas and 4 hours elsewhere. See [hospital discharge transportation](https://nemtguide.com/guides/hospital-discharge-transportation/).

The contract's modes are fixed route bus, multi-passenger van, wheelchair van, invalid vehicle (stretcher), ambulance, and member mileage reimbursement. The broker must use a city bus when one is available and suitable: a stop no more than a third of a mile away, no more than one change of bus each way, and no more than 60 extra minutes of travel. Since January 1, 2026, members driven by a friend or relative get up to $0.725 a mile. See [mileage reimbursement](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/mileage-reimbursement/).

The broker sets the level of help: [curb-to-curb](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/curb-to-curb/), [door-to-door](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/door-to-door/), or hand-to-hand. One escort may ride with each member, and members bring their own car seats for children.

Two groups have no NEMT. CoverKids, Tennessee's children's health insurance program, does not cover non-emergency transportation. And rides to home and community services in CHOICES, ECF CHOICES, and the 1915(c) waivers are not part of the NEMT benefit.

## Which brokers to join

You contract with the brokers, but TennCare says a provider without a valid, active Medicaid ID cannot be considered for a contract with any TennCare health plan. Federal rule [42 CFR 438.602](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/section-438.602) requires states to enroll every health plan network provider.

### First, your TennCare Medicaid ID

1. **Get an NPI.** Apply in NPPES for an organization NPI. The Tennessee Carriers form lists taxonomy 343900000X for ambulatory and wheelchair service. See [how to get an NPI number](https://nemtguide.com/guides/how-to-get-an-npi-number-for-nemt/).
2. **Create an account.** On the TennCare provider registration portal, choose "All Other Provider Registration Information" for an entity.
3. **Upload and disclose.** Upload any license your provider type requires, and disclose every owner, managing employee, and person with control. TennCare returns an application with an incorrect ownership section, which delays your Medicaid ID.
4. **Wait for the welcome letter.** TennCare emails you about any errors. Once your file is approved, it emails your Medicaid ID and its effective date.

TennCare's screening policy, PRO 16-001 (revised September 3, 2026), puts NEMT providers in the limited-risk group, with license and database checks but no required site visit. You revalidate at least every three years, and a lapsed Medicaid ID may end your health plan contracts. Under a CMS order, TennCare is revalidating high-risk providers and providers without an NPI by June 30, 2027, and all others by June 5, 2028. The registration line is 1-800-852-2683, option 5. See [Medicaid revalidation](https://nemtguide.com/guides/medicaid-revalidation/).

### Verida: BlueCare, TennCare Select, and BlueCare Plus

Verida adds providers where a region needs more rides, in four steps:

1. **Request for Qualifications.** Fill out Verida's online form with a driver list and a vehicle list. If your area needs providers, Verida calls you for an interview.
2. **Documents.** Send a current business license, proof of liability insurance, driver credentials, criminal background checks for all drivers, current drug screens for all owners and drivers, and a driving record for each driver.
3. **Inspections and training.** Every vehicle passes a safety inspection, and drivers finish First Aid, CPR, defensive driving (the AAA Driver Improvement Program in Tennessee), passenger sensitivity, spill kit, lifting, and wheelchair securement training.
4. **Owner orientation.** The owner attends Verida's session on its operating and contracting rules and signs the contract at the end.

Verida's Tennessee provider line is 1-855-735-1020, and its claims line is 678-510-4600, option 2. See our [Verida guide](https://nemtguide.com/brokers/verida/).

### Tennessee Carriers: UnitedHealthcare and Wellpoint

Tennessee Carriers says it has served TennCare since 1994. Fill out its Prospective NEMT Transporter Information Form, which asks for your NPI, Medicaid ID, hours, vehicle counts by type, and every county you serve. Attach four screenshots of your TennCare file with all seven sections showing a green check, and email it to NEMTOnboarding@tenncarriers.com.

Incomplete applications are rejected, and Tennessee Carriers picks new companies by network needs, capabilities, experience, and location. Its main line is (901) 795-7055, and TennCare lists extension 8625 for questions. See our [Tennessee Carriers guide](https://nemtguide.com/brokers/tennessee-carriers/).

The plans must also offer network spots to the ten Human Resource Agencies, to disability waiver providers for the people they serve, and to rideshare companies that accept TennCare policy PRO 22-003. See [working with multiple NEMT brokers](https://nemtguide.com/guides/multiple-nemt-brokers/) and [NEMT broker credentialing](https://nemtguide.com/guides/nemt-broker-credentialing/).

## Licenses and registrations

### Your company

Form an LLC or corporation with the Secretary of State through TNCaB, its online filing system. As of September 2026, LLC articles of organization (form SS-4270, revised January 2025) cost $50 per member, with a $300 minimum and a $3,000 maximum, and a corporation charter costs $100. An LLC's annual report is due by the first day of the fourth month after its fiscal year ends (April 1 for a calendar year), for the same $300 minimum. A corporation's costs $20. Skip it and the state can dissolve the company, and reinstatement costs $70 plus a tax clearance.

LLCs and corporations also owe franchise and excise tax to the Department of Revenue: franchise tax of 0.25 percent of your Tennessee net worth, at least $100 a year, plus excise tax of 6.5 percent of taxable income, due the 15th day of the fourth month after your year ends. See [NEMT business taxes](https://nemtguide.com/guides/nemt-business-taxes/).

Your business license comes from the county or city clerk, and each new business pays the clerk a $15 registration fee. The license depends on gross receipts at your location:

| Gross receipts | What you need |
|---|---|
| Over $3,000, under $100,000 | Minimal activity license |
| $100,000 or more | Standard business license and business tax registration |

At $100,000 or more, register for business tax on TNTAP, which takes Revenue up to 10 business days, and file a yearly return. You may not operate until your license is posted. Get your EIN from the IRS, which charges nothing. See [choosing an LLC for NEMT](https://nemtguide.com/guides/llc-for-nemt/).

### State agencies that license NEMT work

Tennessee has no single NEMT license. Four state offices each cover a piece:

| If you | You need |
|---|---|
| Take any TennCare trip | A TennCare Medicaid ID |
| Hire drivers for sedans and vans | A Class D license with F endorsement, or a CDL, for each driver |
| Run stretcher vans | A Department of Health invalid service license and vehicle permits |
| Run ambulances | A Department of Health ambulance license, permits, and licensed EMTs |

**Department of Safety.** Anyone whose main job is driving people for hire needs the For-Hire (F) endorsement on a Class D license. Drivers apply at a Driver Services Center: at least 18, with two years of unrestricted driving experience, a vision screening, a knowledge test, and a $4.50 fee.

**Department of Health, Office of EMS.** An invalid service carries people on stretchers who need no medical care or monitoring on the way. The initial application (form PH-4070, revised February 2025) costs $5,000, plus $250 for each vehicle permit, with a mechanical safety inspection form (PH-2405) and marking photos for each vehicle. Each county where you keep a base needs its own license, and licenses and permits renew by July 1 each year. Call 615-741-2584. See [how to start a stretcher transportation business](https://nemtguide.com/guides/start-a-stretcher-transportation-business/).

**Department of Revenue.** Revenue issues intrastate authority to for-hire motor carriers that carry people on Tennessee highways. The application (RV-F1315501, October 2025) costs $50 plus $8 per vehicle, needs a Form E from your insurer, and lists a $1.5 million liability minimum for vehicles seating 15 or fewer, driver included. Ask Motor.Carrier@tn.gov whether your vehicles need it. For trips across state lines, see [DOT numbers for NEMT](https://nemtguide.com/guides/dot-number-for-nemt/).

Cities may license vehicles for hire too. Nashville's Metro Transportation Licensing Commission has exclusive jurisdiction over vehicles for hire there, so ask your city or county before you start. See [NEMT license requirements](https://nemtguide.com/guides/nemt-license-requirements/).

## Vehicle rules

The health plan, through its broker, inspects every vehicle before it enters service and at least once a year, testing your radios or phones each time. A passing vehicle gets a sticker on the outside of the rear passenger-side window, lower right corner. A vehicle out of compliance comes out of service until the fix is confirmed. The Department of Health permits stretcher vans and ambulances instead.

Every van and sedan needs:

- A working seat belt for every seat, stored off the floor, two seat belt extensions, and a seat belt cutter within the driver's reach.
- Working heat, air conditioning, and interior lights, two outside mirrors, and an inside mirror for the passenger area.
- A mounted Class B chemical fire extinguisher in the driver's area, inspected in the past 12 months.
- Emergency triangles, a stocked first aid kit, and a spill kit.
- Your business name and phone number on both sides in letters at least 3 inches tall, with no words suggesting TennCare members ride inside.
- Inside, the license number, the plan's toll-free number, complaint procedures in English and Spanish, and seat belt and no smoking signs.
- A packet with the registration, insurance card, and accident forms.
- A clean body and interior with no torn seats or sharp edges, and no more people, driver included, than the maker's seating capacity.

Wheelchair vans must meet the ADA accessibility specifications for transportation vehicles. Stretcher vans must belong to a company the Department of Health licenses for invalid service, with a current ground invalid vehicle permit. Prepare with the [vehicle inspection checklist](https://nemtguide.com/templates/nemt-vehicle-inspection-checklist/), and see [NEMT vehicle requirements](https://nemtguide.com/guides/nemt-vehicle-requirements/).

## Driver rules and training

Every van or sedan driver must be at least 18 and pass these checks before the first trip:

- A Class D license with F endorsement, or a Class A, B, or C CDL, from Tennessee or the driver's home state.
- A physical at least as thorough as the federal commercial driver exam.
- A drug test, then random tests covering at least 20 percent of drivers a year, tests on reasonable suspicion, and a same-day test after any accident.
- A Tennessee background check under T.C.A. 38-6-109 and a national check, every five years, clear of the plan's disqualifying offenses.
- Clear checks of the Tennessee Abuse Registry, Tennessee Felony Offender Registry, the [OIG exclusion list](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/oig-exclusion-list/), SAM, and the TennCare Terminated Provider List, plus yearly sex offender registry checks.
- A yearly [motor vehicle record](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/motor-vehicle-record/) from every state lived in, with no DUI in 10 years; no reckless driving, leaving an injury accident, or vehicle felony in 36 months; no more than two minor violations in 12 months; and no more than one at-fault accident in 36 months.

Training takes at least 32 hours before the first trip and 15 hours each year. Its 18 topics run from passenger assistance, sensitivity, and [wheelchair securement](https://nemtguide.com/guides/wheelchair-securement/) to HIPAA, the ADA, defensive driving, infection control, and an annual road test. Dispatchers, supervisors, and mechanics are trained before you start too. See [NEMT driver training](https://nemtguide.com/guides/nemt-driver-training/).

On the job, drivers wear a readable ID badge, never smoke or eat in the vehicle, wear no headphones except a hands-free phone headset, and never leave a rider alone. They tell you at once about an arrest or charge for a disqualifying offense, any moving violation, or a suspended license, and you tell the broker.

Keep proof of every check in each driver's file, including a signed attestation with the dates of the physical and drug test, because audits can come unannounced. Each month the plan sends TennCare a roster of your drivers and vehicles, so report every change. Use the [driver file checklist](https://nemtguide.com/templates/nemt-driver-file-checklist/).

## Trip rules and how you get paid

The broker sends a manifest of new trips before 5 p.m. on the same business day, by fax or secure electronic transmission, and calls to confirm any trip assigned later. On the road:

- **Pickup.** The rider never has to board before the scheduled time. Wait at least 5 minutes past it, then call dispatch before you leave.
- **Rider wait.** No more than 10 minutes past the scheduled pickup.
- **Drop-off.** At least 15 minutes before the appointment, no more than an hour early, and never before the office opens.
- **Returns.** A [will-call](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/will-call-trip/) pickup is due within one hour of the call.
- **Shared rides.** No rider spends more than an hour longer than a direct trip.
- **Changes.** Never change a pickup time without the broker's permission.
- **On-time goal.** Each plan must get 90 percent of riders to appointments no later than 15 minutes after the appointment time.

A [no-show](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/no-show/) is a trip where the driver arrived on time and made contact, and the rider canceled at the door or was not there 5 minutes after the pickup time. Riders are never charged. Drivers keep a daily log with actual pickup and arrival times for every trip, so use a [trip log](https://nemtguide.com/templates/nemt-trip-log-template/) that covers the contract's fields. NEMT is not an electronic visit verification (EVV) service: TennCare's contract applies EVV to home health, private duty nursing, personal care, and CHOICES and ECF CHOICES home and community services.

TennCare does not set a NEMT rate. The broker sets it in your agreement, which must cover pay for cancellations, no-shows, and escorts, and each plan must have a fuel price adjustment policy. Send claims to the broker, not the plan: Wellpoint's December 2025 manual says it denies NEMT claims for trips not coordinated through Tennessee Carriers and sends the provider to Tennessee Carriers. The contract holds each plan to these NEMT claim standards:

| Rule | Standard |
|---|---|
| Clean claims | 90 percent processed within 30 days |
| All claims | 99.5 percent processed, and paid if due, within 60 days |
| Accuracy | 97 percent paid correctly the first time |
| Checks | 2 percent of your claims each month matched to the medical visits |

For disputes, the TennCare Oversight Division of the Department of Commerce and Insurance runs a free complaint process for transportation providers with a complaint against a TennCare health plan, such as late payment or credentialing (TennCare.Oversight@tn.gov, 615-741-2677). For claims a plan denied, you can ask the division within 365 days of the first denial to send the dispute to an outside reviewer. The fee is $750 (since July 1, 2015), and the losing side pays it. Ask the division whether a broker's denial qualifies. See [how to bill NEMT brokers](https://nemtguide.com/guides/how-to-bill-nemt-brokers/).

## Insurance requirements

TennCare's contract, in the version effective July 1, 2026, requires every NEMT provider to carry these before the first trip:

| Coverage | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Auto liability | $1,000,000 combined single limit per occurrence, for owned, leased, hired, and non-owned vehicles |
| General liability | $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate |
| Workers' compensation | All-states coverage, with employer's liability of $1,000,000 or the statutory amount, whichever is greater |

See combined single limit and hired and non-owned auto. Verida also wants insurers rated A- or better, every vehicle listed on the auto policy, and what it lists as "$1 M SAM coverage with $2M aggregate" on the general liability policy. Ask each broker how it wants your certificate worded before you buy. Stretcher services also send the Department of Health a certificate meeting its EMS insurance rule. See [NEMT insurance requirements](https://nemtguide.com/guides/nemt-insurance-requirements/).

Tennessee law requires workers' compensation once a business outside construction has five or more employees, counting part-time workers and family members but not the owners of a sole proprietorship, LLC, or partnership. TennCare's contract goes further: every provider agreement must require it, so buy it before your first trip even with one driver. See workers' comp for NEMT.

## What it costs and how long it takes

These are the fees Tennessee sets as of September 2026. Vans, insurance, and equipment depend on your quotes; see [what it costs to start a NEMT business](https://nemtguide.com/guides/how-much-does-it-cost-to-start-a-nemt-business/).

| Item | Cost | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| EIN | Free | IRS |
| LLC articles (up to six members) | $300 | Secretary of State |
| Corporation charter | $100 | Secretary of State |
| LLC annual report (up to six members) | $300 a year | Secretary of State |
| Minimum franchise tax | $100 a year | Department of Revenue |
| Business license registration | $15 | County or city clerk |
| F endorsement | $4.50 per driver | Department of Safety |
| Invalid service license (stretcher only) | $5,000, plus $250 per vehicle | Department of Health |
| Intrastate authority (if it applies) | $50, plus $8 per vehicle | Department of Revenue |

A workable order, from first call to first trip:

1. **Call both brokers.** Ask which counties and service levels they are short on.
2. **Form your company,** get your EIN, and get your business license from the clerk.
3. **Get your NPI and register with TennCare.** Fix any error TennCare emails you about, or no Medicaid ID is issued.
4. **Buy insurance** to TennCare's minimums, workers' compensation included, and ask Revenue about intrastate authority.
5. **Equip your vehicles.** For stretcher vans, apply to the Department of Health.
6. **Hire drivers** who pass the checks, get each an F endorsement, and start the 32 hours of training.
7. **Apply to both brokers,** then pass their inspections and orientation.

The brokers set the pace, since both add providers only where their networks need them. For the same steps in any state, see [how to start a NEMT business](https://nemtguide.com/guides/how-to-start-a-nemt-business/).

## Work beyond Medicaid

- **Rural transit.** Human Resource Agencies run most rural public transportation, such as Mid-Cumberland HRA in 13 counties around Nashville, and the plans must offer them NEMT network spots. TDOT's 2026 Section 5310 call for projects funds vehicles for nonprofits and local governments in small urban and rural areas. See Section 5310 grants.
- **Medicare plans.** UnitedHealthcare Dual Complete and Wellpoint Medicare Advantage rides go through Tennessee Carriers, and BlueCare Plus rides through Verida. Ask each broker whether your agreement covers them. See Medicare Advantage transportation.
- **Veterans.** The VA pays for special mode transportation, an ambulance or specially equipped vehicle, when a VA provider decides a veteran needs it and the trip is approved in advance. Ask your nearest VA facility's beneficiary travel office. See VA beneficiary travel.
- **Facilities and private pay.** Dialysis centers, hospitals, senior living communities, and private pay riders add work beyond the brokers. TennCare discharges still go through the member's broker. See [how to get NEMT facility contracts](https://nemtguide.com/guides/how-to-get-nemt-facility-contracts/).

## Frequently asked questions

### Do I need a license to run a NEMT business in Tennessee?

There is no single state NEMT license. Every company needs a TennCare Medicaid ID before a health plan or broker can contract with it, and a county or city business license once gross receipts pass $3,000. Drivers need a for-hire (F) endorsement or a CDL. Stretcher vans need a Department of Health invalid service license and a permit for each vehicle. Ask the Department of Revenue whether your vans need intrastate authority.

### Who are the Medicaid NEMT brokers in Tennessee?

As of September 2026, Verida arranges rides for BlueCare Tennessee, TennCare Select, and BlueCare Plus members. Tennessee Carriers arranges rides for UnitedHealthcare Community Plan and Wellpoint members, and for UnitedHealthcare Dual Complete and Wellpoint Medicare Advantage. Each broker has its own application and agreement, so a company that wants every TennCare rider in its county needs both.

### Do I need a TennCare Medicaid ID if I work through a broker?

Yes. TennCare says a provider without a valid, active Medicaid ID cannot be considered for a contract with any TennCare health plan or be paid for services to TennCare members. Register as an entity on the TennCare provider registration portal. TennCare emails a welcome letter with your Medicaid ID and its effective date, and Tennessee Carriers asks for screenshots of your completed TennCare file with its application.

### How much do TennCare brokers pay per trip?

TennCare does not set a NEMT fee schedule. Each health plan keeps its own fee schedules, and the brokers set your rate in their provider agreements. TennCare's contract requires every agreement to cover pay for cancellations, no-shows, escorts, and adults riding with children, and each plan must have a fuel price adjustment policy. Escorts are never paid separately on van trips.

### What insurance does a NEMT company need in Tennessee?

TennCare's health plan contract, in the version effective July 1, 2026, requires auto liability of $1 million per occurrence for owned, leased, hired, and non-owned vehicles, general liability of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate, and workers' compensation with at least $1 million in employer's liability. Verida also wants insurers rated A- or better and lists "$1 M SAM coverage with $2M aggregate" for general liability.

### Do my NEMT drivers need an F endorsement in Tennessee?

Yes, unless they hold a commercial license. TennCare's contract requires a Class D license with the F (for-hire) endorsement or a Class A, B, or C CDL. The Department of Safety issues the F endorsement at a Driver Services Center to drivers at least 18 with two years of unrestricted driving experience, after a vision screening and a knowledge test, for $4.50.

### What changes for Tennessee NEMT providers in 2027?

Two things to watch. TennCare's current health plan contract runs through December 31, 2026, so check TennCare's ride page in January 2027 to confirm which broker serves each plan. And by January 1, 2027, people with both Medicare and TennCare who want a Medicare special needs plan must have it with the same company as their TennCare plan, so some riders will switch plans and brokers.

## Official resources

- [TennCare: NEMT benefit for providers and broker contacts](https://www.tn.gov/tenncare/providers/tenncare-provider-news-notices-forms/tenncare-s-non-emergency-medical-transportation-benefit--nemt-.html)
- [TennCare: Provider registration, how to apply](https://www.tn.gov/tenncare/providers/provider-registration/how-to-apply.html)
- [TennCare: Statewide health plan contract (NEMT rules in Attachment XI)](https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/tenncare/documents/MCOStatewideContract.pdf)
- [Verida: Tennessee transportation providers](https://verida.com/tennessee-providers/)
- [Verida: Request for Qualifications form](https://verida.com/provider-request-for-qualifications-form/)
- [Tennessee Carriers: NEMT provider page and application](https://tenncarriers.com/nemt/)
- [Tennessee Secretary of State: TNCaB business filings](https://tncab.tnsos.gov/)
- [Tennessee Department of Revenue: Business tax registration and licensing](https://www.tn.gov/revenue/taxes/business-tax/registration-and-licensing.html)
- [Tennessee Department of Safety: F (for-hire) endorsement](https://www.tn.gov/safety/driver-services/classd/classf.html)
- [Tennessee Department of Health: Ambulance and invalid service licensure](https://www.tn.gov/health/licensure/ems.html)