Non-Emergency Medical Transportation

Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT)

Also known as Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services (PTS) in the United Kingdom, this private transportation method refers to a ride hailing service provided to patients that for some reason are not able to attend their medical appointments, lab tests or ambulatory surgeries. Depending on patient's specific needs, this service could be provided on special vehicles driven by trained drivers.

According to United States Centers for Medicaid & Medicaid Services (CMS) people who are eligible for Medicaid benefits may or not qualify for NEMT services. To qualify, States may require that there be an unmet transportation need.Depending on State law, a qualifying unmet need can include:

• Not having a valid driver’s license;
• Not having a working vehicle available in the household;
• Being unable to travel or wait for services alone; or
• Having a physical, cognitive, mental, or developmental limitation

The service can be provided in different vehicles that may or not haven been customized for patients. These vehicles include stretcher cars, vans, taxis and buses.

There are different NEMT models that can be used by Medicaid agencies to provide NEMT:

• In-house management;
• Managed Care Organizations (MCO);
• Brokers;
• Mixed models

Based on the patient's medical profile, NEMT services can be provided on different levels:

• Curb-to-Curb. For passengers with light or no physical disabilities, that are able to walk to and from the vehicle;
• Door-to-Door. For those who may require some basic assistance to get from their home over to the vehicle, and then form the vehicle over to their destination;
• Hand-to-Hand. For patients with mild-severe mental disabilities who need to be always in contact with a person that may help them;
• Bed-to-Bed. for patients with severe physical disabilities that require help during the whole transportation process.

Background

A 2005 analysis made by the Transportation Research Board stated that nearly 4 million Americans miss or delay medical care each year because they lack transportation. As a critic activity, NEMT services accounts for under 1% of healthcare spending in the United States.

By delaying or missing medical appointments, patients' medical conditions may worse, incurring in further expenses that can severely affect household's financial status.

References

This article "Non-Emergency Medical Transportation" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Non-Emergency Medical Transportation. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

---