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

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

To start a NEMT business in Utah, form your company with the Division of Corporations, get a city or county business license, insure your vehicles, and get a yearly safety inspection for each van for hire. Then apply to Modivcare, the statewide Medicaid broker since February 1, 2014. Utah Medicaid does not take applications from new NEMT companies, so Modivcare's network is the way in.

- Utah Medicaid does not enroll new NEMT companies. Modivcare is the statewide broker, so its network is the way into Medicaid ride work.
- Modivcare rides go to members with no car or transit they can use. Inside UTA's service area, members who can ride transit use it first, and door-to-door service needs a doctor's certificate.
- Register the company with the Division of Corporations for $59, get a local business license, and get a yearly safety inspection for every bus or van for hire.
- Utah's auto liability minimums rose on January 1, 2025, and Modivcare adds general liability, abuse and molestation, and workers' comp cover on top.
- Long trips have rules: rides go to the nearest provider, trips over 75 miles one way need a medical necessity form, and border trips reach up to 120 miles out of state.

## Utah NEMT at a glance

| Fact | Details |
| --- | --- |
| Medicaid agency | Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Integrated Healthcare, which pays the broker a capitated rate set through competitive bidding |
| How rides work | One statewide broker for door-to-door rides. Transit comes first in the UTA and Cedar City areas, and tribal programs serve American Indian and Alaska Native members in eight counties. |
| Medicaid broker | Modivcare, formerly LogistiCare, the sole NEMT broker since February 1, 2014 |
| How to join | Fill out the Become a Transportation Provider form on Modivcare's join page. Utah Medicaid does not accept applications from new NEMT companies. |
| State registration | Division of Corporations for the company, plus a city or county business license. On in-state trips, UDOT motor carrier rules reach only larger vehicles, such as those built for more than 15 people. |
| Insurance | Modivcare asks for general liability, abuse and molestation, auto, and workers' comp cover. Utah auto minimums since January 1, 2025: $30,000, $65,000, and $25,000, plus $3,000 PIP. |
| Drivers | A valid license and no federal exclusion under the state plan. Modivcare adds a background check, drug screen, clean driving record, first aid, CPR, defensive driving, and PASS. |
| Vehicle inspections | A Utah safety inspection every year for each bus or van for hire, with the certificate carried in the vehicle. Modivcare also checks vehicles on field visits. |
| Pay | Your rate and payment dates come from your Modivcare agreement. Utah pays Modivcare a capitated rate, not a per-trip fee to you. |
| EVV | NEMT is not on the list. Utah's EVV covers personal care and home health services, and its September 2025 code list has no transportation codes. |

Utah runs Medicaid rides through one statewide broker. Modivcare, formerly LogistiCare, has arranged Utah Medicaid's door-to-door rides since February 1, 2014, and it contracts local transportation companies to drive them. Utah Medicaid does not take applications from new NEMT companies, so Modivcare's network is the way into this work. The rules below follow the state's Medical Transportation Services provider manual, updated July 2026.

## How Medicaid rides work in Utah

The Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) runs Medicaid through its Division of Integrated Healthcare, and the Department of Workforce Services (DWS) decides who is eligible. Under Utah's state plan (amendment 21-0014, effective October 1, 2021), one contracted broker schedules and provides NEMT across the whole state. The state pays that broker a [capitated rate](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/capitation/) that came out of a competitive bid.

Modivcare is not the first stop for every rider. The manual sets a ladder, and a member uses the most cost-effective option that meets their needs:

1. **Mileage.** Members who can drive, or be driven, can get mileage paid. As of September 2026, the state's ride page lists 18 cents a mile, up to $300 a month.
2. **Transit.** Members inside the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) area ride buses, TRAX, and streetcar with a UTA Transit Card good for up to 30 journeys a month to Medicaid appointments.
3. **[Paratransit](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/paratransit/).** Members who cannot use fixed routes apply for UTA Paratransit, or for Dial-A-Ride from Cedar Area Transportation Services (CATS) around Cedar City.
4. **Modivcare.** Door-to-door rides for members outside the transit areas, or who cannot use transit for medical reasons.
5. **Ambulance.** For members over the vehicle weight limits who cannot use a manual wheelchair.

Who gives the ride depends on where the member lives:

| Where the member lives | Who gives the ride |
|---|---|
| UTA's service area in Box Elder, Davis, Salt Lake, Tooele, Utah, and Weber counties | UTA or UTA Paratransit first, Modivcare for members who medically cannot use them |
| The Cedar City area | CATS buses or Dial-A-Ride first, then Modivcare |
| The rest of the state | Modivcare, for members with no working vehicle |

Modivcare serves members with no licensed vehicle in the household who live outside the UTA and CATS areas, and members who cannot use a car or transit for medical reasons. The medical cases need a certificate from the member's primary care provider, and Modivcare may give rides for up to four weeks while it is completed. Its physician's certificate, updated February 4, 2025, records whether the rider needs a wheelchair van or a stretcher, and a stretcher approval lasts three months.

American Indian and Alaska Native members who live in a tribal service area ride with a tribal NEMT program instead, even when they live off the reservation:

| Tribal program | Counties |
|---|---|
| Utah Navajo Health System | Kane and San Juan |
| Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation | Juab and Tooele |
| Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah | Iron, Millard, Sevier, and Washington |

Tribal members outside those counties ride like anyone else. See tribal NEMT.

Some members get no NEMT at all. The state's ride page lists CHIP, Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries, Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries, Qualifying Individuals, and Emergency Medicaid. Modivcare's Utah facility page adds members in spend-down status and members whose eligibility is pending. Nursing homes must give their residents routine rides, and Modivcare gives the ride when a resident is discharged.

Members book at least three business days ahead, counting the day of the call but not the day of the appointment. Regular Modivcare service runs 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekdays. Urgent care rides run 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day, and weekend and holiday rides are kept mostly for dialysis, urgent care, and [hospital discharges](https://nemtguide.com/guides/hospital-discharge-transportation/).

Modivcare's Utah page lists three levels of service: ambulatory, wheelchair, and stretcher. Stretcher riders cannot sit up and do not need medical monitoring. Modivcare vehicles carry members whose weight, with the wheelchair, is up to 600 pounds.

## How to join Modivcare, Utah's Medicaid broker

The July 2026 manual is plain about this. Utah Medicaid has contracted with UTA, CATS, Modivcare, and tribal transportation. Other companies can give NEMT only through a brokerage with them, and Medicaid does not accept applications for additional NEMT providers. For a new company, that means Modivcare.

1. **Check where Modivcare needs providers.** Its Become a Transportation Provider page shows a map of the areas where it most needs more rides.
2. **Get your company, vehicles, and insurance in place.** The sections below cover each one.
3. **Fill out the provider form.** It sits on the same page, under the requirements.
4. **Follow up through the Transportation Provider Support Form.** Modivcare uses it for application status, driver safety, and other provider questions.
5. **Get credentialed.** Send your driver, vehicle, and insurance documents. Modivcare also makes field visits to confirm vehicles meet its contract standards.
6. **Start trips.** Approved providers use the Transportation Provider portal for billing and claims, ride reservations, and booking driver safety courses.

Utah's state plan sets its own floor for every NEMT provider paid under it, except public transit:

- Neither your company nor any of your drivers may be excluded from a federal health care program or listed on the HHS Inspector General's [exclusion list](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/oig-exclusion-list/).
- Every driver needs a valid driver's license.
- You need a process for dealing with any violation of a state drug law.
- You need a process for disclosing each driver's driving history, traffic violations included, to the Medicaid program.

For the company across its other states and its 2025 bankruptcy, see our [Modivcare guide](https://nemtguide.com/brokers/modivcare/) and [Modivcare's Chapter 11 exit](https://nemtguide.com/news/modivcare-exits-bankruptcy/). The [broker credentialing guide](https://nemtguide.com/guides/nemt-broker-credentialing/) covers what to gather before you apply.

## Licenses and registrations

### Your company

Register on Utah's business registration site, businessregistration.utah.gov, with the Division of Corporations and Commercial Code. The same filing registers you with the Utah State Tax Commission and the Department of Workforce Services. An LLC or a corporation costs $59 to form under the Division's fee schedule effective July 1, 2025. Most online filings go through immediately, and filings that need manual review take 5 to 7 business days.

Your renewal is due every year on the anniversary of your registration, and the Division sends a notice to your registered agent in the 60 days before. It costs $18, plus $10 if you file late. A lapsed LLC or corporation costs $54 to reinstate, plus $18 for each missed year and a $10 delinquency fee. A DBA name costs $22 to register and renews every three years. See [whether an LLC fits a NEMT company](https://nemtguide.com/guides/llc-for-nemt/).

Get your employer identification number (EIN) from the IRS. It is free, and the IRS issues it immediately online. Then get a business license from the city or county where your business is located. If a health plan or facility asks for an NPI, see [how to get an NPI number](https://nemtguide.com/guides/how-to-get-an-npi-number-for-nemt/).

### Utah Department of Transportation

Utah's motor carrier rules turn on vehicle size. Under Utah Code 72-9-102, as amended effective May 6, 2026, a vehicle used for pay only inside Utah is an intrastate commercial vehicle when it meets one of these tests:

| Vehicle | Commercial in Utah |
|---|---|
| Built for more than 15 people, driver included | Yes |
| Built for more than 12 people and rated 13,000 pounds or more | Yes |
| Rated 26,001 pounds or more | Yes |
| A sedan, minivan, or wheelchair van below all three | No |

A commercial vehicle brings UDOT's motor carrier rules. UDOT says companies that run commercial vehicles carrying passengers, inside or across state lines, must register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and get a USDOT number. The number is free, and you update it every two years on form MCS-150. Utah law also tells UDOT to adopt the federal motor carrier safety rules, in whole or in part, including minimum insurance requirements. A vehicle built for 16 or more people, driver included, needs a driver with a commercial driver license (CDL).

Trips across the state line use a lower bar. For interstate trips, Utah counts a vehicle as commercial when it is rated 10,001 pounds or more, or is built or used to carry more than 8 people, driver included, for pay. UDOT also says carrying passengers for hire across state lines takes FMCSA operating authority, applied for on form OP-1 for $300. Read [USDOT numbers for NEMT](https://nemtguide.com/guides/dot-number-for-nemt/) before you take border trips, and [NEMT license requirements](https://nemtguide.com/guides/nemt-license-requirements/) for the licensing layers every state has.

## Vehicle rules

Start with the yearly safety inspection. Utah Code 53-8-205 requires one every year for each bus or van for hire, and for every commercial vehicle, which may show a valid federal annual inspection instead. The station issues two certificates, and the driver must have one on hand. The Utah DMV says the inspection is not needed to register the vehicle, but the certificate stays in the vehicle at all times.

Emissions tests are separate. They apply to vehicles registered in Salt Lake, Davis, Utah, Weber, and Cache counties, each on its own schedule.

Modivcare sets its vehicle standards in its contract and checks them on field visits. Before a vehicle carries a Utah rider, have:

- Current registration, as Modivcare's join page lists.
- Proof of insurance that meets Modivcare's minimums.
- The safety inspection certificate in the vehicle.
- A working seat belt for every rider. Utah law makes the driver responsible for belting riders aged 8 to 15, and for a child restraint for a child under 8 unless the child is at least 57 inches tall. Modivcare's Utah brochure asks members to bring their own car seat.

For wheelchair work, check your lift's rated capacity against the 600-pound limit before you accept a heavy rider. A member over 600 pounds arranges rides through their DHHS worker. On stretcher trips, Modivcare's physician's certificate notes that it provides no medical aid, support, or equipment. Train every driver on [wheelchair securement](https://nemtguide.com/guides/wheelchair-securement/), and run the [vehicle inspection checklist](https://nemtguide.com/templates/nemt-vehicle-inspection-checklist/) before each field visit.

## Driver rules and training

Utah's state plan sets two disqualifiers for any driver on a Medicaid trip:

- Exclusion from any federal health care program, including a listing on the HHS Inspector General's exclusion list.
- No valid driver's license.

Modivcare adds its own requirements for every driver, as of September 2026:

- A [PASS](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/pass-certification/) wheelchair certificate from hands-on wheelchair training.
- Current first aid and CPR certification.
- A defensive driving certificate.
- A passed drug screen. See [NEMT driver drug testing](https://nemtguide.com/guides/nemt-driver-drug-testing/).
- A clean [motor vehicle record](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/motor-vehicle-record/).
- A background check. See [NEMT driver background checks](https://nemtguide.com/guides/nemt-driver-background-check/).

On the trip, the rider signs the driver's log twice: once after the ride to the appointment, and again after the ride home. One travel attendant may be approved to ride with a member. Children under 16 must ride with a parent, a legal guardian, or an adult the guardian authorizes. Riders aged 16 and 17 may ride alone with a signed consent form on file with Modivcare, and the manual lists exceptions such as pregnant, married, and emancipated minors. The manual says transportation providers will not tolerate disruptive or dangerous behavior, such as profane language or combative acts.

Keep a file for each driver with the license copy, driving record, background check, drug screen, and training certificates, plus the driving history you disclose under the state plan. Our [driver file checklist](https://nemtguide.com/templates/nemt-driver-file-checklist/) tracks them.

## Trip rules and how you get paid

The state manual and Modivcare's Utah pages set these trip rules:

- **Nearest provider.** Every NEMT trip goes to the nearest appropriate Medicaid provider. Members in a managed care plan go to the closest provider in their plan.
- **Long trips.** A trip over 75 miles one way needs a Medical Necessity Certification Form from the referring provider, one for each provider. Modivcare may give rides for up to four weeks while the form is done or care moves closer.
- **Border trips.** Modivcare covers trips up to 120 miles one way into out-of-state border communities. A provider within 120 miles of the Utah border must contact Modivcare before driving a member back to Utah. See out-of-state NEMT trips.
- **Recurring trips.** Facilities set up [standing orders](https://nemtguide.com/guides/nemt-standing-orders/) for regular care such as dialysis. Modivcare's Utah facility page says a standing order covers three months of trips, and then Modivcare checks with the medical provider.
- **Returns.** When no return time is set, the member or the clinic calls Modivcare when the visit ends, and Modivcare dispatches a provider. See [will-call trips](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/will-call-trip/).
- **Cancellations and readiness.** Members are asked to cancel 24 hours ahead, or at least two hours before pickup when something unexpected comes up. Modivcare can deny rides to a member who is consistently not ready 10 minutes after the scheduled pickup.
- **Covered trips only.** Modivcare denies trips to services Medicaid does not cover and to providers not enrolled in Medicaid. Its Utah facility page says a transportation provider would not be paid for a trip that is not a covered service.

Utah's manual requires a two-letter [origin and destination modifier](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/origin-destination-modifiers/) on NEMT claims billed to Medicaid, such as RP for a trip from a residence to a physician's office, or RJ for a residence to a dialysis center outside a hospital. Record the pickup and drop-off places, the times, and the rider's signature for every leg on your [trip log](https://nemtguide.com/templates/nemt-trip-log-template/).

Utah does not set your rate. The state pays Modivcare a capitated rate, and your pay and payment dates come from your Modivcare agreement. Before you sign, get in writing the rate for each level of service, the terms for [no-shows](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/no-show/), and the payment schedule. See [how to negotiate broker rates](https://nemtguide.com/guides/negotiate-nemt-broker-rates/) and [how to bill NEMT brokers](https://nemtguide.com/guides/how-to-bill-nemt-brokers/).

## Insurance requirements

Modivcare's join page lists four kinds of coverage, as of September 2026, and says limits vary by state:

| Coverage | What Modivcare asks for |
|---|---|
| General liability | Bodily injury, property damage, and personal injury |
| Sexual abuse and molestation | Required, with higher limits if you need them |
| Auto liability | Bodily injury and property damage, at least your state's minimum |
| Workers' compensation | Required in most states if you have employees |

Ask Modivcare's network team for Utah's exact limits in writing before you buy a policy. For what brokers ask for elsewhere, see [NEMT insurance requirements](https://nemtguide.com/guides/nemt-insurance-requirements/).

Utah's own auto minimums rose for policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, under Utah Code 31A-22-304:

| Limit | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Injury to one person | $30,000 |
| All injuries in one accident | $65,000 |
| Damage to others' property | $25,000 |
| Or one combined limit | $90,000 |

A Utah auto policy that meets the state's security requirement also includes personal injury protection of at least $3,000 per person for medical expenses, plus uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage unless you waive them. Vehicles that count as commercial under the Motor Carrier Safety Act follow the federal minimum insurance requirements that Utah law tells UDOT to adopt.

Utah requires almost every employer to carry workers' compensation for all its employees, under Utah Code 34A-2-201. A sole proprietor, a partnership, or the members of an LLC with no employees other than the owners may apply to the Labor Commission for a Workers' Compensation Coverage Waiver, for a $50 nonrefundable fee and a one-year term. A corporation that does not contract out its work, with no employees except up to five directors or officers, can file a corporate exclusion instead. Once you hire a driver, you need a policy. See workers' comp for NEMT.

## What it costs and how long it takes

These are the government fees as of September 2026. Vehicles, insurance premiums, 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/) for those.

| Item | Cost | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| EIN | Free | IRS |
| LLC or corporation filing | $59 | Division of Corporations |
| Yearly renewal | $18, $10 more if late | Division of Corporations |
| DBA name | $22 | Division of Corporations |
| Workers' comp waiver, owners only | $50 a year | Labor Commission |
| USDOT number, commercial vehicles only | Free | FMCSA |

A workable order, from first call to first trip:

1. **Check Modivcare's priority map** and ask through its support form which counties and service levels need more providers.
2. **Form your company** and get your EIN.
3. **Get your city or county business license.**
4. **Buy insurance** that meets Modivcare's checklist, and get workers' comp or a waiver.
5. **Inspect your vehicles.** Get the yearly safety inspection, emissions tests where your county requires them, and a USDOT number if a vehicle counts as commercial.
6. **Hire and train drivers.** Screen each one against the exclusion list and collect Modivcare's documents.
7. **Send the provider form,** then pass credentialing and the field visit.

Most state steps take days. Credentialing with Modivcare depends on your documents, so ask through its support form how long it takes in your area. For the same steps in any state, see [how to start a NEMT business](https://nemtguide.com/guides/how-to-start-a-nemt-business/) and [how long it takes](https://nemtguide.com/guides/how-long-to-start-nemt/).

## Work beyond Medicaid

Utah has several other sources of rides worth a call.

- **Disability services contracts.** DHHS buys services for people with intellectual disabilities, related conditions, and acquired brain injuries through an Invitation for Applications, DHHS91172, with a scope of work effective July 1, 2026. Vendors finish a pre-solicitation process before applying. The related Health Transportation Payment (HTP) covers medical rides for waiver members in residential or day support, and it needs an active Motor Transportation Payment agreement and Utah Medicaid enrollment through the PRISM portal. HTP drivers are at least 18, with driving records checked every year.
- **Nursing homes.** Utah requires nursing homes to give residents their routine rides to appointments, so each one is a possible private contract. See [how to get NEMT facility contracts](https://nemtguide.com/guides/how-to-get-nemt-facility-contracts/).
- **Veterans.** The VA pays for special mode transportation, an ambulance or a specially equipped vehicle, when a VA provider decides a veteran's condition requires it and the trip is approved in advance. Ask the beneficiary travel office at your nearest VA health facility how it books these rides. See VA beneficiary travel.
- **Private pay.** Riders who pay for themselves, and families booking rides Medicaid does not cover, add work that does not depend on one broker. See [private pay NEMT](https://nemtguide.com/guides/private-pay-nemt/).

Section 5310 grants for senior and disability transportation go to private nonprofits and public agencies, through UTA in the Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Provo urban areas and UDOT elsewhere, so a for-profit company cannot apply for one itself.

## Frequently asked questions

### Do I need a license to start a NEMT business in Utah?

You need a registered company and a local business license. Form an LLC or corporation with the Division of Corporations and Commercial Code ($59 under the fee schedule effective July 1, 2025), then get a license from your city or county. Each bus or van for hire needs a Utah safety inspection every year. On trips inside Utah, UDOT motor carrier rules apply only to larger vehicles: those built for more than 15 people, driver included, those built for more than 12 and rated 13,000 pounds or more, and those rated 26,001 pounds or more.

### Who is the Medicaid NEMT broker in Utah?

Modivcare, formerly LogistiCare. The Utah Department of Health wrote that LogistiCare became the sole contractor for Utah Medicaid NEMT on February 1, 2014, replacing PickMeUp. The state's July 2026 manual calls Modivcare the statewide NEMT broker that contracts with local transportation companies. Members book rides with Modivcare at least three business days ahead.

### Can I enroll directly with Utah Medicaid as a NEMT provider?

No. Utah's Medical Transportation Services manual, updated July 2026, says Medicaid has contracted with UTA, Cedar Area Transportation Services, Modivcare, and tribal transportation, and that other companies can give NEMT only through a brokerage with them. It states that Medicaid does not accept applications for additional NEMT providers. Apply to Modivcare instead.

### Which Utah Medicaid members can ride with Modivcare?

Members with no licensed vehicle in the household who live outside the UTA and Cedar City transit areas, and members who cannot use a car or transit for medical reasons. The medical cases need a certificate from the member's primary care provider, and Modivcare may give rides for up to four weeks while it is completed. CHIP, Qualified Medicare Beneficiary, Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary, Qualifying Individual, and Emergency Medicaid members get no NEMT.

### How much does Modivcare pay per trip in Utah?

Utah does not set a per-trip rate for broker trips. Under its state plan, the state pays Modivcare a capitated rate that came out of a competitive bid, and Modivcare contracts with local companies to drive the rides. Your rate and payment dates are in your Modivcare agreement, so get the rate for each level of service in writing before you sign.

### How long does it take to start a NEMT business in Utah?

The state steps are quick. Most online company filings go through immediately, filings that need manual review take 5 to 7 business days, and the IRS issues an EIN online right away. Modivcare credentialing depends on your driver, vehicle, and insurance documents, so ask through its Transportation Provider Support Form how long it takes where you plan to drive.

### Do Utah NEMT vans need a safety inspection?

Yes. Utah Code 53-8-205 requires a safety inspection every year for each bus or van for hire and for every commercial vehicle. The station issues two certificates, and the driver must carry one. Vans registered in Salt Lake, Davis, Utah, Weber, or Cache county also need emissions tests on their county's schedule. Modivcare asks for a state inspection wherever one is required.

## Official resources

- [Utah Medicaid: Non-Emergency Medical Transportation](https://medicaid.utah.gov/non-emergency-transportation/)
- [Utah Medicaid Provider Manual: Medical Transportation Services (July 2026)](https://medicaid-documents.dhhs.utah.gov/Documents%2Fmanuals%2Fpdfs%2FMedicaid+Provider+Manuals%2FMedical+Transportation%2FTransportation7-26.pdf)
- [Modivcare: Become a Transportation Provider](https://www.modivcare.com/transportation-providers-contact-us/)
- [Modivcare: Transportation Provider Support Form](https://www.modivcare.com/transportation-provider-support-form/)
- [Modivcare: Utah facility resources and forms](https://www.modivcare.com/facilities/ut/)
- [Utah Business Registration: form and renew your company](https://businessregistration.utah.gov/)
- [Utah DMV: Safety and emissions inspections](https://dmv.utah.gov/register/inspections/)
- [Utah Labor Commission: Workers' Compensation Coverage Waivers](https://laborcommission.utah.gov/divisions/industrial-accidents/employers/wccw/)
- [Utah DHHS: DHHS91172 provider applications for disability services](https://dhhs.utah.gov/dhhspurchasing/dhhs91172/)
- [IRS: Get an employer identification number](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/get-an-employer-identification-number)