Non-Emergency Medical Transportation

Non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) services transport patients to medical appointments, treatments, and healthcare facilities who are unable to drive themselves due to age, disability, or medical conditions but don't require emergency ambulance service.

NEMT serves elderly, disabled, Medicaid patients, and others needing reliable medical transportation.

The service is often covered by Medicaid, Medicare Advantage plans, and insurance companies, creating reliable payment streams.

Successful NEMT businesses maintain spotless safety records, employ compassionate drivers, ensure on-time performance for critical appointments, and build relationships with healthcare facilities and insurance coordinators.

The business model generates revenue through per-trip fees paid by Medicaid/insurance ($25-100+ per trip depending on distance and service level), private pay from patients or families, and contract relationships with healthcare facilities.

Wheelchair-accessible service commands premium rates.

Services include scheduled medical appointment transportation, recurring dialysis and treatment transport, wheelchair and stretcher transportation, curb-to-curb or door-to-door service, assistance with mobility aids, coordination with facilities, and sometimes waiting and return transportation.

Success requires proper licensing and permits varying by state, appropriate vehicles (wheelchair vans command higher rates), drivers with clean records and patient care training, scheduling and dispatch systems, insurance and bonding, and relationships with Medicaid coordinators and healthcare facilities.

Initial investment includes accessible vehicle ($30,000-80,000+ for wheelchair van or converted vehicle), NEMT licensing and permits, commercial insurance, dispatch software, and driver training.

The business scales by adding vehicles and drivers, expanding service area, and building facility contracts.

Marketing targets healthcare discharge planners, senior living facilities, dialysis centers, Medicaid transportation brokers, and directly to patients and families.

Contracts with Medicaid brokers provide steady volume.

The business offers recession-resistant healthcare industry, recurring patient trips (dialysis 3x weekly, treatments, appointments), insurance payment reliability, meaningful service helping people, and aging demographics increasing demand.

Challenges include regulatory compliance requirements, lower reimbursement rates from Medicaid, no-show rate management, vehicle accessibility costs, and coordinating complex scheduling with medical appointment changes.

Many NEMT businesses expand to multiple vehicles, focus on higher-paying wheelchair transport, or contract with multiple insurance and Medicaid providers.