Are you thinking about how to start a non-emergency medical transportation business? Starting the NEMT business might be a perfect step for those who are looking for the opportunity to break into the healthcare industry.

However, we all are familiar with the fact that there are many steps involved in properly launching any kind of business. Crafting the right strategy for success is crucial when turning your idea into reality.

According to the latest report, the NEMT market is expected to reach over 15 billion by 2028. Since every year approximately 3.6 million people in the US miss or delay non-emergency medical treatment because they don’t have transportation.

In this blog, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about how to start a NEMT business from scratch.

So let’s get started!

What is a Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Business?

A non-emergency medical transportation business is defined as a service given to patients who are not in a serious emergency situation. But compared to a simple taxi service they need more assistance. Nemt drivers will be well-equipped to transport raiders in wheelchairs, stretchers, or with other special needs.

NEMT is an essential service to those who need it—for instance helping them get to and from medical appointments, therapy sessions, lab tests, and much more.

What are the Types of Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Services?

NEMT service comprises a wide range of transportation choices tailored to meet the specific needs of people with different mobility requirements and health conditions. Anyway, there are 4 common types of NEMT services:

 

Wheelchair Transportation

Wheelchair vans are designed to transport patients in wheelchairs, or who are not in a position to walk independently. Therefore, NEMT drivers operate those vans that are equipped with wheelchair lifts.

Additionally, there is an availability of wheelchair rentals, and these services are offered to those individuals with disabilities.

Ambulatory Transportation

Conversely, ambulette service provides wheelchair-accessible transportation for those who need further assistance getting in and out of vehicles. ‘

This form of transportation is reliable for medically stable patients who can move independently, especially with basic first aid.

Stretcher Medical Transportation

Strethers vans offer transportation services for those individuals who need medical monitoring during transit. For example, if there are bedridden patients who are unable to move or even sit upright then stretcher medical transportation becomes essential.

This is the reason why many NEMT providers offer stretcher services. However, it can be difficult for a single person to hold a stretcher. So, NEMT drivers need partner assistance in this type of transport to get the patient and stretcher on and off the medical van.

Courier Service

A maximum number of NEMT companies expand their service to include medical courier transportation. These services are provided for the delivery of human blood, organs, oxygen, and other medical devices for a patient staying at home.

However, all drivers are liable to work strictly in accordance with the standards set by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

How to Start your NEMT Business?

Starting your own non-emergency medical transportation business not only fulfills an important need. But can also be an opportunity to take an innovative idea and transform it into a lucrative business venture.

So it all starts from registering your NEMT business name to getting your employer identification number EIN from the IRS. Below are the necessary steps to start your own new venture in  non-emergency medical transportation:

Register Your NEMT Company

First, you register your business. If you’re planning to build the NEMT company, be sure to take the required steps to make it happen. Make sure to register your business with the federal government. This enables an individual to obtain a federal tax ID, trademark patents, and tax-exempt status.

Apply for License and Permits

This includes filling out and submitting non-emergency medical transportation licenses, certificates, and permits. However, many small business owners oversimplify the importance of licensing and insurance. But these documents have a potential impact on your NEMT business.

Invest in necessary transport equipment

It’s important to invest in such vehicles for your NEMT business that are reliable, safe, and customizable for passenger’s unique needs. Also make sure that you’ve got some necessary safety items such as emergency lights, sirens, essential medical equipment for instance oxygen tanks, and first aid kits.

While these equipment can be expensive, they’re well worth it. By doing so, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that your customers will get security against unforeseen events while on the road.

Hire and Train NEMT Employees

To ensure that your non-emergency medical transportation business runs smoothly, then put the best person behind the wheel. However, certification training and courses are now becoming standard in the NEMT industry.

For this reason, it is your duty to ensure that potential driving candidates meet all state requirements, like conducting extensive background checks to identify and screen out individuals for safety and security.

Furthermore, it’s imperative that you should always provide appropriate training to help new hires better understand:

• How to interact with passengers,
• How to effectively deal with difficult customer situations,
• Understand the Basis of Vehicle Management

Market and Grow Your NEMT Business

Every business must have a plan to target potential customers and maintain strong relationships with them. That’s why it’s time to start marketing your NEMT service to potential passengers. So below are potential ways to promote your NEMT business:

• Create a Website to reach a wider audience
• Setup your relationships with industry members
• Use social media to amplify brand visibility on search engines

Analyzing the data obtained through market research can help you spot out potential areas for expansion and develop a well-informed NEMT business. Hence online marketing allows for targeted advertising and real-time tracking of your marketing efforts.

Optimize Your Driver Schedule and Routes

Fuel expenses are among the most important recurring expenses in the non-emergency medical transportation business. Through route optimization, you can minimize fuel consumption and operation costs. Consider employing routing software to help you in planning the most efficient routes for your NEMT drivers.

Additionally, NEMT companies can also use mapping and routing software to check driver availability, monitor and schedule trips, and avoid traffic congestion.

How much does it cost to start a Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Business?

The cost of starting a NEMT business depends on many factors such as the size, scope, and complexity of your NEMT services. According to one source, your investment starts from $30,000 and goes to $350,000 on average to start your own NEMT company.

But other sources suggest startup costs are more in between $12000 to $25000. A number of costs are associated with NEMT. However, some of the general costs include vehicles, licensing ess, driver training and salaries, fuel and maintenance, and marketing costs during startup.

Finally, make sure to budget for unforeseen expenses that may arise during the course of your company’s operations.

Quickly and Easily Manage Drivers and Trips with NEMT Bot

Tracking the real-time location of drivers is a real fuss. So don’t waste time and resources. Use NEMT Bot to save hours on route planning. Manage scheduling and routing effectively. Our software solution uses advanced algorithms to optimize routes, monitor traffic conditions, and schedule NEMT trips.

For startups, NEMT Bot is a reliable choice. NEMT providers get the opportunity to manage non-emergency medical transportation with real-time dispatching and scheduling. Keep a record of all the drivers hired in your company with vehicle details for easy driver management on the go.

Start your NEMT Business Today!

Now that you’ve read our guide, it’s time to start your own non-emergency medical transportation business. In this competitive landscape, one of the key tools to ensure success is NEMT Bot. This new automated platform has become a companion for NEMT providers with a host of benefits.

So, don’t waste the opportunity to transform your vision into reality. All it takes is just a little kick to make things go smoothly.

When you know that your NEMT business needs it, schedule a demo today with our team of NEMT experts to understand how our software simplifies everything.