By Nick Hoffmeyer, Head of Marketing at Bambi · Updated September 28, 2026 · 6 min read
Reviewed by Howard F. Berkowitz, a non-emergency medical transportation and paratransit expert with 30+ years in the industry (H&S Consulting).
You get an NPI number by applying online through NPPES, CMS's free enumeration system, choosing Type 1 (individual) or Type 2 (organization), and submitting your business and taxonomy details. Many state Medicaid programs and brokers ask for your NPI when you enroll, so get it early, though some states also let NEMT providers enroll with a state-issued "atypical provider" ID instead.
If you're still at the very beginning, start with how to start an NEMT business with one van or our full guide on how to start an NEMT business. This post is the how-to: the actual application, the Type 1 vs. Type 2 decision for an NEMT company, and the mistakes that get claims kicked back.
What an NPI is (the short version)
An NPI (National Provider Identifier) is a unique 10-digit number assigned through CMS that identifies a health care provider on HIPAA standard transactions like claims. It doesn't carry information about you, such as your state or specialty, and it won't change even if your name, address, or taxonomy changes. Here, we're focused on getting one.
Type 1 vs. Type 2: which does your NEMT business need?
This is the decision most owner-operators get stuck on, so let's settle it early.
- Who it's for: Type 1 NPI: An individual, including a sole proprietor (a business you own personally, not an LLC or corporation); Type 2 NPI: An organization (your NEMT company as a legal entity, such as an LLC or corporation)
- Typical NEMT use case: Type 1 NPI: A solo owner-operator running the business as an unincorporated sole proprietorship, with or without employees; Type 2 NPI: Any NEMT company organized as an LLC or corporation, even if the owner is the only driver
- Tied to: Type 1 NPI: Your Social Security number (sole proprietors use their SSN even if they have an EIN); Type 2 NPI: Your business's EIN
- Changes if your name or address changes?: Type 1 NPI: No, the number stays the same; you just update your record; Type 2 NPI: No, the number stays the same; you just update your record
The deciding factor is your legal structure, not your fleet size. Per CMS, a sole proprietor is a Type 1 no matter how many employees or locations they have, and can hold only one NPI. If you've formed an LLC or corporation, the company gets a Type 2. An owner who is also individually a health care provider (a licensed nurse, for example) may hold a personal Type 1 alongside the company's Type 2, but most NEMT owners only need the company's number. If you're not sure which fits your setup, your state Medicaid provider enrollment office can tell you what it expects before you apply.
How to apply for an NPI: step by step
- Decide Type 1, Type 2, or both, using the table above.
- Gather your information before you start. For Type 2: legal business name, EIN, business mailing and practice addresses, and the authorized official who'll sign the application. For Type 1: legal name, SSN, date of birth, and practice address.
- Create an account in the CMS Identity & Access (I&A) Management System, if you don't already have one. You log in to NPPES with your I&A username and password. (CMS also accepts a paper application, Form CMS-10114, if you'd rather mail it.)
- Start your application in NPPES, CMS's National Plan and Provider Enumeration System, at nppes.cms.hhs.gov.
- Select a taxonomy code that matches what you do. For most NEMT companies that's 343900000X, Non-emergency Medical Transport (VAN), in the NUCC Transportation Services list. Don't confuse it with 343800000X, Secured Medical Transport (VAN), which is for transport of patients in mental health or substance use crisis. Some state Medicaid programs specify which taxonomy they expect, so check before you pick.
- Fill out the rest of the application: contact info, other identifiers if you have them, and the authorized official's attestation.
- Submit. Once the application is processed you're assigned ("enumerated") an NPI; CMS may follow up first if anything doesn't match.
- Save your NPI and keep your NPPES record current. Federal rules (45 CFR 162.410) require you to report changes to your required NPPES data, like a new address or authorized official, within 30 days of the change.
There's no fee to apply, and your NPI stays the same for as long as it's active.
How your NPI connects to Medicaid and broker enrollment
Getting the NPI is step one, not the finish line. On its own, an NPI doesn't enroll you with anyone. It's the identifier that Medicaid, managed care plans, and brokers attach to your provider file once you go through their separate enrollment or credentialing process. Requirements differ by state: North Carolina Medicaid, for example, lets NEMT providers enroll with either an NPI or an atypical provider ID under the 343900000X taxonomy.
In practice, that means:
- Medicaid provider enrollment in many states asks for your NPI (or an atypical provider ID where the state allows one) as part of the application, alongside your EIN, licenses, and insurance.
- Broker network credentialing, for example with a managed transportation broker, typically also requires your NPI on the provider application before they'll assign trips to you.
- Claims and billing carry your NPI in the provider fields. If the NPI on a claim doesn't match what's on file with the payer, expect the claim to bounce back instead of getting paid.
Once you're enrolled, Bambi's Get Paid handles the other half of clean billing: GPS-stamped, signature-verified trips, broker-compliant invoicing, claim tracking, and audit-ready logs.
Common NPI mistakes NEMT owners make
- Applying as Type 1 when the business should be Type 2, then hitting a wall during Medicaid or broker enrollment because the application expects an organizational NPI.
- Picking the wrong taxonomy code, which can create a mismatch with what your state Medicaid program or broker expects during enrollment.
- Letting NPPES information go stale, an old address or a changed authorized official, which creates a mismatch between what NPPES shows and what your Medicaid or broker application says.
- Confusing the NPI with your state Medicaid provider ID. They're not the same thing. The NPI is a national identifier from CMS; your Medicaid provider number is state-assigned and comes after separate enrollment.
- Waiting until after you've won a broker contract to start the NPI application. The NPI itself is a free online application, but Medicaid enrollment and broker credentialing that depend on it take much longer, so start early. Our guide to getting medical transportation contracts covers that side.
FAQ
What does NPI stand for? NPI stands for National Provider Identifier, a 10-digit number assigned through CMS that identifies health care providers on claims and other HIPAA standard transactions.
How do I get an NPI number? Apply for free through NPPES, CMS's online enumeration system, choosing Type 1 for an individual or Type 2 for your business. See the step-by-step section above.
Is there a fee to apply for an NPI? No. CMS doesn't charge to apply for an NPI, and the number doesn't change when your name, address, or taxonomy changes.
Does every NEMT driver need their own NPI? Generally, no. Trips are billed under the company's NPI (or state ID), not the driver's. A solo owner-operator running as a sole proprietor gets a Type 1 NPI for the business, since that's how CMS classifies sole proprietors. Your state Medicaid agency can confirm any state-specific rules.
Can I have both a Type 1 and a Type 2 NPI? Yes, in some cases. CMS notes that an incorporated individual who is a health care provider may need a Type 1 for themselves and a Type 2 for their corporation or LLC. A sole proprietor, though, can hold only one NPI, the Type 1.
Does getting an NPI enroll me with Medicaid automatically? No. The NPI is an identifier, not an enrollment. You still need to complete Medicaid provider enrollment or broker credentialing separately and list your NPI on that application.
Getting paid shouldn't be the hard part
Once your NPI is squared away and you're enrolled with the right payers, the next headache is usually claims. Bambi's Get Paid backs every trip with GPS-stamped, signature-verified proof, builds broker-compliant invoices, and tracks each claim, with audit-ready logs if a payer ever asks. It's $69 per vehicle per month, flat, with no contracts. See how Get Paid works.
About the author: Nick Hoffmeyer is Head of Marketing at Bambi, the AI-powered dispatch and scheduling platform for non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) providers. He leads Bambi's growth, SEO, and content strategy and works with NEMT owner-operators every day on the systems that help fleets run more trips with less stress. Connect with Nick on LinkedIn.
