WINDOW ROCK – The Navajo Department of Health (NDOH) is strengthening oversight of Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) services to enhance patient safety, accountability, and reliable access to care for elders and vulnerable community members.
NEMT providers play a critical role in ensuring patients can travel to routine medical appointments, dialysis, behavioral health services, and specialty care—especially across the vast and rural areas of the Navajo Nation. For many families, these services remain an essential link to consistent healthcare.
NDOH continues to enforce regulatory standards under Navajo Nation’s Title 13 health regulations, including permitting, inspections, and compliance monitoring.
Providers must meet strict requirements such as verified licensure, insurance coverage, driver qualifications, background checks, and adherence to patient privacy protections.
Driver standards include defensive driving certification, CPR and First Aid training, and drug testing, while vehicles must meet safety, inspection, and maintenance requirements to operate.
NDOH Executive Director Sherylene Yazzie emphasized that these efforts are focused on protecting patients and ensuring dependable transportation services.
“NDOH is committed to ensuring transportation providers operate safely and in full compliance with regulations that protect our people,” said Yazzie. “Access to reliable transportation is essential to improving health outcomes, especially for those in underserved communities.”
NDOH continues to improve enforcement processes and streamline permitting to ensure consistent, high-quality service delivery across the Navajo Nation.
