Questions about medical transportation, answered

Non-emergency medical transportation is a scheduled ride to or from medical care for people who can't drive or use regular transportation. It covers doctor visits, dialysis, therapy, and hospital discharges. It is not for emergencies. In an emergency, call 911.

An ambulance carries an EMT or paramedic who can monitor and treat a patient on the way. NEMT is transportation only: trained drivers help with boarding and transfers, but no medical care is given during the ride. If the rider needs monitoring, oxygen adjustment, or treatment in transit, book an ambulance.

NEMT (non-emergency medical transportation) takes riders to medical care, often with help boarding and accessible vehicles. NMT (non-medical transportation) usually means rides for everyday errands like groceries or social visits. Naeli focuses on medical trips.

Ambulatory means able to walk. Ambulatory transportation is a medical ride for someone who walks on their own or with a cane or walker, and rides in a regular seat with help from the driver.

Stretcher transportation is a non-emergency ride for someone who has to lie flat for the trip. The rider travels on a stretcher locked into a van, and a two-person crew handles every transfer. It is for comfort and positioning, not medical care.

A wheelchair van carries a rider seated in their own wheelchair, boarded by lift and secured at four points. A stretcher van carries a rider lying down on a stretcher with a two-person crew. Choose stretcher if the rider can't sit upright for the length of the trip.

Call dispatch at (404) 390-9956 or send a ride request online. Have the date, appointment time, pickup and destination addresses, and the rider's mobility needs ready. Dispatch confirms the vehicle, the crew, and the price before anything is booked.

Book 24 to 48 hours ahead when you can. Recurring rides like dialysis can be set up as a standing schedule. We can often take same-day requests, so call dispatch to check.

Dispatch and scheduled rides run every day from 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM, including weekends, so early dialysis chairs and Saturday treatments are covered.

Usually, yes. Tell dispatch when you book so we can plan seating in the right vehicle.

Yes. Discharge planners, case managers, and facility staff can book directly by calling dispatch with the patient's details and timing.

We are based in Kennesaw and serve Marietta, Acworth, Powder Springs, Dallas, Hiram, and Douglasville, covering Cobb, Paulding, and Douglas counties. We also take longer trips across metro Atlanta.

The price depends on the ride type (ambulatory, wheelchair, or stretcher), the distance, any wait time, and whether it's a round trip. Stretcher rides cost more because they need a two-person crew. Call dispatch for a quote; you'll know the price before you book.

Wheelchair van rides cost more than a standard car ride and less than stretcher transport. The exact price depends on distance and wait time. Call (404) 390-9956 with both addresses for a quote.

Yes. Families, facilities, and riders can pay privately for any ride. Private pay is often the quickest option for same-day trips or rides that insurance won't cover.

Yes, for eligible members. Georgia Medicaid covers non-emergency rides to Medicaid-covered services for members with no other way to get there. Since April 1, 2026, rides are booked through the state broker, Verida, at least three business days ahead.

Call dispatch to ask whether we can take your Medicaid trip. If not, we can book a private-pay ride, which is often useful for same-day trips or when a broker ride falls through.

Original Medicare does not pay for wheelchair van rides. It covers non-emergency ambulance transport only when other transport would endanger the patient's health. Some Medicare Advantage plans include a transportation benefit, so check your plan's coverage.

Sometimes. Georgia Medicaid members can book dialysis rides through Verida. Some Medicare Advantage plans include rides. Original Medicare covers ambulance transport to dialysis only in limited, physician-certified cases. Otherwise, rides are private pay.

It depends on the patient's coverage and condition. Medicare pays for ambulance transport only when medically necessary. Medicaid members can use the state broker. Otherwise, the family or receiving facility usually pays privately.

Yes. Every Naeli driver is PASS certified, defensive-driving certified, CPR and first-aid trained, background checked, and certified for wheelchair and stretcher transport, with a clean motor vehicle record.

The rider boards on an automated lift, and the driver locks the wheelchair to the floor at four points, then fastens a lap and shoulder belt for the rider.

Yes. Tell dispatch about the rider's needs when you book. A family member or caregiver riding along often helps, and the driver will go at the rider's pace.

Riders who manage their own portable oxygen can usually travel with it. Tell dispatch when you book. If oxygen needs adjusting or monitoring during the trip, the rider needs an ambulance instead.