What is Non-emergency Medical Transportation?

NEMT caters to passengers with special healthcare needs who are not experiencing medical emergencies. They include people in wheelchairs or those who need medical equipment like oxygen tanks and stretchers.

Non-emergency medical transportation vehicles are equipped with the necessary equipment to meet passengers’ specialized needs and ferry passengers safely and securely. 

The following are some special features within NEMT vehicles:

Wheelchair ramps

Handrails

Ergonomically designed

seats for comfort

Large passenger space to accommodate various medical equipment

Another important aspectof NEMT service is that the drivers must have healthcare training. They are educated on how to transport and help patients with special needs so they can assist all passengers from pickup to drop off.

Specialized transportation for individuals with disabilities primarily benefits the elderly and people with disabilities. After all, they need regular checkups to monitor their health and refill their medications. Their physician will schedule appointments, and they will need to find their way to the medical facility. 

When the appointment date is set up, the patient can easily call for an NEMT service through the NEMT passenger app or directly with the transport company. The NEMT provider will schedule their pickup and designate a driver and vehicle for the appointment. 

It is best for those with special medical needs to partner with NEMT providers rather than a taxi or public transport. These traditional vehicles are not equipped with the right features to accommodate older adults on walkers or people who need wheelchairs or stretchers. 

Perhaps some of the patients who have been living with their medical situation for so long had customized their private vehicles for their transportation needs. But if there is no one to drive them, they can’t get to their appointments. 

The NEMT business grows to helps people with medical needs and the elderly become more independent. Instead of waiting for family or friends to be available to take them to their appointments, they can schedule the trip themselves. 

Who Pays for Non-Emergency Medical Transportation?

Many who use NEMT are Medicaid beneficiaries. In this case, the NEMT trip is paid for by the government. NEMT is part of the coverage of an individual’s Medicaid plans. Medicaid beneficiaries usually get reimbursements when using NEMT service.

Some NEMT clients are private pay patients. These are passengers who need specialized transportation but are not qualified for Medicaid coverage, which prioritizes low-income people. 

Charges for NEMT vary depending on the type of transportation, area, passenger’s specific needs, and the nature of their trip. Patients who need the most basic NEMT vehicles will need to pay less than those who require specialized transportation and equipment. 

And as with any transport service, distance is one of the biggest factors that will determine cost.

Every passenger has different needs, which would merit different types of emergency medical services and non-emergency medical services. 

For emergency cases, patients need a more complex medical vehicle and comprehensive care to transport them to the emergency room. The situation would call for an ambulance and highly trained medical personnel. 

What Makes Ambulance and Medical Vehicle Services Different Than NEMT?

An ambulance is medically equipped to treat patients in emergencies. It has the space to accommodate a gurney and various medical devices to support the patient’s breathing and monitor their vital signs as they make their way to the emergency room. 

More importantly, the ambulance is manned by a complete team of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) or paramedics. EMTs treat the patient and deliver the emergency care they need while waiting for more intensive treatment when they arrive in the hospital. 

The ambulance contains several types of medical equipment because there is no way to predict what emergency they will deal with on any given day. 

In contrast, NEMT services can take on various forms. All trips are booked in advance, and there is a set time and place for pickup and dropoff. More importantly, dispatchers and drivers know exactly what their passengers will need for a safe trip.