Why Louisiana Offers Unique NEMTNEMT — Non-Emergency Medical TransportationTransportation services for Medicaid beneficiaries and other patients who need to get to and from medical appointments but do not require emergency ambulance…View in glossary → Opportunities
Louisiana's MedicaidMedicaidThe joint federal-state health insurance program for low-income individuals. Medicaid is the primary payer for NEMT services. Each state administers its own…View in glossary → program — administered by the Louisiana Department of Health (LDHLDHLouisiana Department of Health — state agency administering Medicaid and the Healthy Louisiana managed care program. Publishes the NEMT minimum fee schedule.View in glossary →) — covers approximately 1.9 million members (one of the highest per-capita Medicaid enrollment rates in the country). The state's unique geography, high poverty rates, and limited public transit infrastructure create strong, consistent NEMT demand.
Louisiana uses a broker-based model where transportation brokers oversee the credentialing and management of the NEMT provider network. The two primary brokers are ModivCareModivCareMajor national NEMT broker (formerly Providence Service Corporation/LogistiCare). Operates broker contracts in multiple states including Oregon, North…View in glossary → and MTMMTMMedical Transportation Management, Inc. — one of the nation's largest NEMT brokers, headquartered in Missouri. Operates statewide brokerage in Missouri and…View in glossary →.
Understanding Louisiana's NEMT Model
Louisiana uses a managed care system with five MCOs. NEMT is managed through broker contracts:
ModivCare and MTM: These brokers handle provider enrollment, credentialing, trip scheduling, and payment. Contact each broker directly for enrollment.
9-Month Timely Filing: Claims must be submitted within 9 months of the date of service.
Hurricane Exception Billing: Louisiana has provisions for billing exceptions during declared hurricane emergencies — a critical consideration given the state's annual hurricane season exposure. Providers should maintain disaster preparedness plans.
Getting Started
Business Formation: File with the Louisiana Secretary of State. LLCLLC — Limited Liability CompanyThe most common business structure for NEMT startups. An LLC protects your personal assets from business debts and lawsuits while offering flexible tax…View in glossary → filing fee is $100 for online filing. Annual reports cost $35 (due by the anniversary of formation).
LDH Medicaid Enrollment: Enroll as a Louisiana Medicaid transportation provider through the LDH Medicaid provider enrollment system.
Broker Enrollment: Contract with ModivCare and/or MTM. Enrollment includes insurance verification, vehicle inspections, driver credentialing, and performance standard acknowledgment.
Insurance: Louisiana has high auto insurance rates statewide. Commercial auto ($1M+ CSL), general liability, workers' comp. Budget $10,000–$16,000 per vehicle — among the highest in the South due to litigation climate.
Vehicle and Driver Requirements
Standard broker-enforced requirements: valid LA license, criminal background check, drug testing, CPR/First Aid, ADAADA — Americans with Disabilities ActFederal civil rights law requiring transportation providers to accommodate passengers with disabilities. For NEMT, this means wheelchair-accessible vehicles,…View in glossary → compliance, GPS tracking, clean driving record. Louisiana-specific: vehicles must comply with state DOT safety standards and handle subtropical climate conditions (AC is non-negotiable year-round).
Geographic Strategy
New Orleans/Baton Rouge Corridor: Highest volume — Ochsner Health, LCMC, LSU Health hospitals. I-10 corridor connects the two metros. Shreveport: Northern Louisiana hub with Willis-Knighton and Christus health systems. Lafayette / Lake Charles: Regional centers serving Acadiana. Rural Louisiana: Significant unmet need in Delta parishes and rural bayou communities. Limited providers create opportunity.
Key Contacts
LDH: ldh.la.gov — Medicaid program and provider enrollment.
ModivCare / MTM: Contact through LDH provider directory or broker websites.
LA Secretary of State: sos.la.gov — business formation.
Ready to Launch?
Louisiana's high Medicaid enrollment and limited public transit create strong baseline demand. Our complete Louisiana NEMT Startup Package covers LDH enrollment, broker contracting, hurricane preparedness planning, and financial projections for New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and rural operations.