What is Non-emergency Ambulance Transportation? – Its Uses and Parameters

Non-emergency ambulance transportation is a form of ambulance provided in non-emergency situations for people who need special medical care. Ambulances, helicopters, and other emergency transport vehicles may be used for non-emergency medical transport. Still, the purpose of the transport is to move the patient from one location to another while providing medical assistance, rather than field treatment and Immediate transport to an emergency facility. Some hospitals and other facilities provide non-emergency ambulance transportation as part of their services, and specialized companies like RouteGenie, also provide this service.

A candidate for non-emergency transportation is medically stable but still needs medical assistance. For example, a nursing home resident who has just spent time in the hospital may need non-emergency medical transportation to return to the nursing home so that nurses or paramedics can monitor the patient’s condition and treat any problems. The medical team assigned to the patient. Also, a chronic patient may require ambulance transportation to medical appointments.

Hospitals sometimes use non-emergency transportation to move patients, e.g. B. when a surgical candidate changes hospitals to work with a particular surgeon or to use special facilities. Patients may need to be monitored in these cases, but their cases are not urgent, so they are good candidates for non-emergency medical transport. Patients may also be transferred from an emergency care facility to a more general medical facility via non-emergency medical transportation to make room for emergencies.

In this type of ambulance, the patient is transported on a stretcher or wheelchair, accompanied by at least one paramedic or nurse. The transport vehicle is equipped with medical equipment if necessary, which can also be used to monitor the patient during the trip. Transportation also includes the placement of equipment that can be used by the patient, such as IV fluid bags, colostomy bags, and other medical devices.

The bill for non-emergency medical transportation is typically significantly lower than for emergency transportation. This is because the transport vehicle crew is not involved in life-saving medical procedures during the journey. The journey is much safer as the driver or pilot does not have to go to a medical facility. The ability to schedule trips also reduces costs, as trips can be scheduled for a regular work shift without having to request overtime or odd hours from transportation staff.

Use of NEMT (Non-emergency Medical Transportation)

The health climate is changing rapidly as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to affect us all. As a result, many practices have switched to telemedicine options to reduce in-person interaction and increase accessibility. However, the truth is that some appointments cannot be carried out successfully through a video conference. That means patients still need a way to get to and from necessary appointments, one way or another. This is where non-emergency medical transportation comes in to save the day.

Who pays for NEMT?

There are a few diverse ways to pay for NEMT services, the most common being Medicaid. Since most people who receive NEMT trips are Medicaid recipients, the cost of your trip is usually covered by your insurance company. However, insurance coverage changes depending on the state in which a person resides. As such, it is key for anyone looking to travel to check their insurance coverage in advance.

If a person seeking a NEMT trip is not a Medicaid recipient, they have the option of receiving the service through private pay. This simply means that they pay for your trip out of pocket, not through insurance. These types of customers are a great asset to your business, as they almost always generate more revenue than insured customers.

NEMT Parameters

Again, Parameters vary depending on the state you operate in. For example, some states require a physician to pre-approve a service. Others may only need to know that a patient’s dispensary is a bona fide medical facility. A third may require the medical facility to submit the NEMT application before providing the services it provides. These regulations range from light requirements to those that can last a day or more. Therefore, it is vital that beneficiaries understand what is expected of them beforehand so that they do not miss out on the transportation they need.