Medical Answering Services (MAS): NEMT Broker Guide for Transportation Providers

Medical Answering Services (MAS) is New York State's sole Medicaid transportation broker, coordinating roughly 15 million trips a year for about 7 million enrollees across all 62 counties. This guide covers how to become an MAS NEMT provider, what the application process involves, and what to expect once you're in the network.

For NEMT providers in New York, partnering with MAS is less an option than a requirement. Since the state consolidated Medicaid transportation under a single broker, contracting with MAS is the path to consistent trip volume and long-term Medicaid work. Pairing that access with the right NEMT software is what turns it into a profitable operation.

Contents:

• MAS History
• Where MAS Operates
• How to Become an MAS NEMT Provider
• MAS Requirements for NEMT Providers
• Why Work with MAS?

MAS History

Founded in 2004 by Russ Maxwell, MAS has more than two decades of experience managing Medicaid transportation in New York. The company started in Onondaga County and grew region by region into the state's largest NEMT management organization.

The turning point came on August 1, 2023, when the New York State Department of Health named MAS the single statewide Medicaid Transportation Broker, consolidating work previously split among several managers. By March 1, 2024, all Medicaid members, including managed care and MLTC enrollees, were required to arrange non-emergency trips through MAS. Today the company coordinates approximately 15 million trips a year and supports healthcare access for about 7 million Medicaid enrollees. Its core functions include trip authorization, scheduling, provider network oversight, and compliance monitoring, working alongside NYSDOH and regional healthcare stakeholders.

Where MAS Operates

MAS operates statewide across all 10 NYSDOH regions and all 62 New York counties. Areas with high demand for NEMT providers include New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, the Capital Region, Central New York, Western New York, the North Country, and the Southern Tier. Across the state, enrollees rely on MAS for trips to hospitals, clinics, dialysis centers, physician offices, and rehabilitation facilities.

How to Become an MAS NEMT Provider

Becoming an MAS provider is a two-part process: secure a letter of support from MAS, then enroll with New York State Medicaid. The steps are:

• Complete the MAS Transportation Provider Network Application.
• Pass MAS review and receive a letter of support from the MAS Transportation Provider Relations team.
• Apply to NYS Department of Health provider enrollment through eMedNY (the MAS letter of support is required; applications submitted without it are rejected).
• Meet MAS network requirements to finalize onboarding.

Once approved, you can begin accepting authorized Medicaid trips in your service counties.

Apply here: wp2.medanswering.com/transportation-providers/become-a-provider/

Provider relations: tprelations@medanswering.com

Provider phone: (866) 932-7740

MAS Requirements for NEMT Providers

Like most brokers, MAS requires providers to clear credentialing and compliance before joining the network. Typical requirements include:

• Active business license and tax identification number
• Commercial auto insurance meeting New York Medicaid standards
• Vehicle inspections and valid registrations
• Driver background checks and motor vehicle record reviews
• Drug testing and safety compliance documentation
• HIPAA compliance training
• ADA-accessible vehicles for wheelchair transportation
• CTAA Passenger Assistance, Safety and Sensitivity (PASS) certification for drivers, completed within three months of network implementation
• Medicaid transportation certifications and required state approvals

Why Work with MAS?

Because MAS is the only Medicaid transportation broker in New York, contracting with it gives providers direct access to the entire statewide pool of recurring Medicaid trips, a volume no other single relationship in the state can match. That translates into predictable demand across a broad mix of appointment types and service regions, plus the long-term stability of working within an established statewide system.

RouteGenie NEMT software is integrated with MAS, allowing providers to seamlessly import trips, automate dispatching, manage billing, and maintain compliance, all from one platform. Learn more about RouteGenie's broker integrations.