What gets checked
A typical NEMT checklist covers tires, brakes, lights, mirrors, wipers and fluids; the wheelchair lift or ramp and its operation; securement straps and occupant belts; and the fire extinguisher, first aid kit and spill kit. Brokers and plans inspect vehicles on their own schedule and expect the provider to keep daily records in between.
Why the record matters
A dated, signed inspection shows the van was safe when it left the yard. If an item that matters for safety fails, such as the lift, the van shouldn’t go out until it is fixed, and dispatch needs to know so its trips can move to another run.
This daily check is separate from the Vehicle Safety Systems Inspection (VSSI) certificate a wheelchair or litter van needs for Medi-Cal enrollment.
Going deeper: Starting an NEMT business in California: licences, insurance and getting on Medi-Cal plans
Related terms
- Wheelchair vanA wheelchair van is a vehicle with a lift or ramp and securements that carries a rider seated in their wheelchair.
- Litter van (gurney or stretcher van)A litter van, also called a gurney or stretcher van, carries a rider lying flat on a stretcher who needs no medical care on the way.
- Run (route)A run, also called a route, is the ordered list of pickups and drop-offs one van and driver will do in a shift.
Sources
Checked on . Rules change: check the current version with the payer before you bill.