NEMT stands for non-emergency medical transportation. It’s an industry focused on helping people with special needs to get to and from hospital and nursing facilities, ambulatory and general medical appointments, pharmacies, rehabs, physical therapies, dialysis, critical treatment centers, and more. NEMT vehicles allow easy wheelchair or stretcher access, and they must have a lifting ramp. Besides, drivers have to be qualified and certified to assist their passengers effectively.
Who can be a NEMT passenger? Anyone who doesn’t have access to public transportation/car, or can’t drive due to physical or mental conditions (e.g., disabled students traveling to and from school, those who live in a rural area and can’t get to and from healthcare appointments, etc.).
How profitable is a senior transportation business?
Furthermore, Medicaid insurance plans cover NEMT services for seniors, older adults living in rural areas, those with temporary or permanent disabilities, and other low-income citizens. NEMT drivers pick up passengers, provide assistance during a trip, and get them back home if necessary. None of the public transportation can provide such a level of hands-on service like NEMT companies. That’s why they are invaluable in modern society.
Becoming a NEMT provider is not that difficult. Although regulations vary from state to state, you can check requirements in the local Health Care Services Department and the Department of Driver Services. Also, you’ll have to ensure that drivers are well-trained and certified to serve individuals with disabilities, know various assistance techniques and what to do in emergency situations. Make sure you arrange legal documentation properly. To get business up and running, you have to deal with various certificates, NEMT licenses, and permits. Non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) is a crucial service that many senior citizens rely on. Since a great deal of these men and women can’t drive themselves, they depend on NEMT services to safely get to and from hospitals, doctor’s appointments, nursing facilities, rehabs, pharmacies, etc. While there were fewer than 50 million elderly Americans in 2015, it’s expected there will be 70 million of them by 2030, according to census data. This means demand for transportation options among senior citizens will increase—so the best time to enter the NEMT field is right now.
Medical Transportation Industry Opportunity
he NEMT industry is a profitable one. In the US, these services usually range from $25 to $60 per hour, depending on the state. So if you work 20 hours a week at a rate of $25/hour, you’ll make $500 a week or $2,000 a month! Now that you know the NEMT business is lucrative, what’s the first step in getting your foot in the door?
Usually, the longer NEMT owners are in business, the more they earn. That’s because they get better known in their communities and have lots of regular customers.
However, there are several ways to increase NEMT business profitability right from the start.
The location of the company and the region of your performance greatly influence the prices. For instance, you’ll earn more if you work in Washington D.C., California, or New York since living expenses are higher in these areas. It means that you can charge more for your services in those regions. Higher prices will boost your profit.
Promote your business more to hospitals, nursing care, doctors’ offices, lab facilities, retirement communities, adult daycare, etc. Leave yo
ur marketing materials there and try to set long-lasting relationships with these organizations. That’s how you’ll be able to acquire new clients, hence, fatten your profit.
Design an intuitive, user-friendly website where you’ll tell about your company, its services, and how passengers will benefit if they choose it. Discuss all information about the types of transportation you provide and tell about your special services. Remember, that most people look for NEMT services online, so a well thought out website is a must-have for you.
Last but not least, you have to use the right NEMT software. If you do all operations manually, it’ll lead to numerous human errors which cost a lot of money for the company. Besides, it’ll badly affect the service and you can lose your clients.
Ways to Start A Senior Transportation Business
Contrary, when you use high-quality software, it’ll eliminate all errors and simplify the overall workflow. Providers, drivers, and other specialists won’t overwork with piles of documentation on their desks since all operations will be automated and digitized. There will be more clean claims, therefore, you’ll get reimbursements faster. Besides, all payers process electronic claims before paper ones.