What is the average cost of non emergency medical transportation

Every day millions of patients and their families are faced with having to arrange long distance non emergency medical transportation for a loved one. The question many of them face as well is whether to go with an air ambulance or a ground ambulance in order to have their loved one moved. When you factor in who uses this service, how long the distance needs to be and the cost of each, it can get complicated. Below you will find some answers to your questions about Non Emergency Medical Transport to help you figure out which is the best for you.

Table of Contents Show

How profitable is a Nemt business?
Does Medi cal cover non medical transportation?
What are some disadvantages to using air medical transport?
How do I start a non emergency medical transportation in Illinois?

What is Non-Emergency Long Distance Medical Transport?

Most people know what long distance patient transport is, but they aren’t quite sure how to go about getting it. There are two different kinds of medical transport for non-emergencies. You can have your loved one moved by ground or air ambulance. These services will see that your loved one is moved a long distance in comfort, so that they can lay down instead of having to sit up during the long trip.

Which is Better, Ground or Air Ambulances?

There is a constant debate as to which is better for non-emergency transport, ground, or air ambulances. The choice is honestly up to the person that is making the arrangements. Below you will find some of the pros and cons of using an air ambulance for transporting your loved one.

The Pros of Air Ambulances

A patient can be transferred from one place to the next quicker than they can by ground ambulance. Sometimes, even though it is not an emergency, the patient is better off being moved quickly.

Even in non-emergency situations, more lives are saved by using air ambulances.

The Cons of Air Ambulances

The cost of an air ambulance may be 2-3 times higher than a ground transport.

When do People Use this Type of Service?

There are many different reasons that people use this type of long distance ambulance service. Some of those reasons are listed below.

Patients who need to change facilities often use Non Emergency Medical Transport to get them where they need to be.

Many people will use this service if they are moving and hurt, when they need to get back to where they lived before.

This type of long distance patient transport is also used by people who are hurt on vacation and need the ride back to the hospital at home

Also used when there are complications with a pregnancy when traveling

It is considered to be long distance if the trip is going to be over 200 miles.

What is the Cost of Air VS Ground?

The long distance medical transport cost is where many people have to come to a tough decision. The prices of an average transport for both ground and air are listed below.

It will cost you roughly $10,000 to $20,000 for your average trip by air ambulance.

A ground medical transport can run you around $3,500 or more per trip, dependent upon where the patient(s) are being transported to.

These are just some of the things you might want to consider when trying to choose between ground and air transport for your loved one. You should weigh the pros and cons wisely and then make the decision that is right for your family’s needs.

Non-emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) is a transportation service provided for those who need transport to and from certain medical appointments. For example, you might need this transport service if you wanted to bring your mom from her nursing home to her scheduled dialysis in a clinic. The coverage and cost of non-emergency medical transport services varies greatly among providers and the level of care needed by the patient. Before getting a non-emergency transportation service, it’s important to learn more about what it is and to be informed about the intricacies of the service.

Insurance Coverage of Non-emergency Medical Transportation

The truth is that insurance will cover this transportation at times. If it meets the criteria of being a medical necessity, insurance or Medicare will cover all or part of the cost of non-emergency medical transportation.

Will it be used for outpatient procedures, medical treatments or post-op checkups?

In that case it’s a medical necessity. It’s necessary that a physician documents the need for non-emergency medical transportation; otherwise there is a chance that they won’t touch the reimbursement. For Medicare, there is a specific form that should be filled out by the doctor. In cases where the patient has to be moved from one hospital or health care facility to another, specifically if the patient has to be transferred for long-term rehabilitation or specialized treatment, part or all of the transport cost is covered. Except for Medicare, some insurance companies will also shoulder the transport cost of visiting the doctor.

Different Types of Non-emergency Medical Transport

There are various reasons why a patient may require professional help with transportation. Some of the reasons are that:

A patient who has a wheelchair that can get in a standard car.
A patient using complex or large medical equipment like a ventilator.
A patient who needs to be continuously monitored while traveling.

There are different kinds of transportation vehicles and it’s important that you get the right one since the patient’s safety and health is at risk. It also matters if budget is a concern. Sometimes, patients are paying more than what they really need. To give you an idea, there are a variety of vehicles that can be used for non-emergency medical transportation. The differences among these vehicles are the medical equipment included and the qualifications of the staff.

You may need one of five main types of vehicle:

1) Wheelchair van – Perfect for wheelchair-bound patients who require an escort or aid when walking but no other medical care is needed.

2) Basic Life Support – Needed by patients who need more aid, like regular monitoring and administration of oxygen.

3) Advanced Life Support – For patients who require more intensive or serious medical assistance like EKG monitoring. They are often accompanied by an EMT, paramedic and a variety of specialized medical equipment.

4) Critical Care – For patients that should be administered by ventilator or pump. A paramedic who is trained in critical care is on board.

5) Bariatric – Furnished with a broader Bariatric cot so it can carry patients who weigh more than 300 pounds and need a wider stretcher.

If you need non-emergency medical transportation, you have options. It’s up to you to decide the best and most cost-effective option.

How profitable is a Nemt business?

The 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!

Does Medi cal cover non medical transportation?

Nonmedical Transportation (NMT) is available to people with full-scope Medi-Cal or who are pregnant, including to the end of the month in which the 365th day postpartum falls. If you receive Medi-Cal through a managed care plan, contact your plan's member service department to request NMT.

What are some disadvantages to using air medical transport?

The common disadvantages are an increased cost which depends on many factors such as staffing, type of aircraft, and distance of transport. The cost of operating air medical transport is also very high because the aircraft itself can cost several million dollars, and the maintenance is very strictly regulated.

How do I start a non emergency medical transportation in Illinois?

How do I enroll my transportation company? Contact HFS Provider Enrollment Services at 217-782-5565 or 888-618-8078 for assistance with enrolling as a non-emergency transportation service provider.