If you’re thinking of starting a medical transportation company, one of the first things you’ll need to do is set your ambulatory transportation fee schedule and rates. But how do you go about doing that?
This article will walk you through the process step-by-step.
Understanding Ambulatory Transportation Rates
First, let’s look at what goes into ambulatory transportation rates. There are a few key factors that you’ll need to consider:
- The type of ambulatory transportation services you’re providing (e.g., non-emergency medical transportation, wheelchair transportation, stretcher transportation)
- The distance you’ll be traveling
- The time of day or night you’ll be transporting patients
- The number of passengers you’ll be transporting
- Your operating costs (e.g., vehicle maintenance, fuel, insurance)
Once you’ve considered all of these factors, you can start to set your ambulatory transportation rates. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
Start by researching the going rate for ambulatory transportation services in your area. You can do this by contacting other medical transportation companies or searching online.
Then, set your rates based on the service you’re providing and the distance you’ll be traveling. If you’re providing a specialty service (e.g., wheelchair transportation), you may want to charge a higher rate than if you’re providing a more standard service (e.g., non-emergency medical transportation).
Finally, consider discounts that you may be able to offer your customers. For example, if you’re able to provide transport at off-peak hours, you may be able to offer a discount to patients who are willing to travel during those times.
Average Ambulatory Rates
Now that we’ve covered some tips for setting your ambulatory transportation rates, let’s look at the average rates charged by medical transportation companies.
According to the National Institute of Transportation Management, the average rate for non-emergency medical transportation is $2.50 per mile. For wheelchair transportation, the average rate is $3.00 per mile. And for stretcher transportation, the average rate is $4.00 per mile.
Of course, these are just averages, and your actual rates will depend on several factors, as we discussed earlier. But this should give you a good starting point as you set your own ambulatory transportation rates.
Setting Your Company’s Rates
When you set your ambulatory transportation fee schedules and rates, consider your operating costs. On average, it costs $0.50 per mile to operate a non-emergency medical vehicle and $1.00 per mile to operate a wheelchair-accessible vehicle. If you provide stretcher transportation, your operating costs will be even higher.
You should also consider the service you’re providing and the distance you’ll be traveling. If you’re providing a specialty service (e.g., wheelchair transportation), you may want to charge a higher rate than if you’re providing a more standard service (e.g., non-emergency medical transportation).
Finally, don’t forget to factor in discounts that you may be able to offer your customers.
Discounts and Promotions
As we mentioned, one way to attract customers is to offer discounts and promotions. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Offer a discount for transport during off-peak hours
- Offer a discount for patients who book transportation in advance
- Give a loyalty discount to customers who use your service regularly
These are just a few of the many discounts and promotions you can offer your ambulatory transportation customers. By getting creative, you can come up with several ways to attract new business and keep your existing customers happy.
Conclusion
By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to setting a fair and competitive ambulatory transportation fee schedule for your medical transportation company.