If you own or operate a Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) business and need your NAICS code, here is your answer right away.
The primary NAICS code for a NEMT company is 485991, classified under Special Needs Transportation in the Transportation and Warehousing sector. However, medical transportation is a highly regulated industry, and the right code for your business depends on whether you provide routine medical transport, emergency ambulance services, or integrated home healthcare. This page covers the relevant codes so you can identify the one that fits.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| NAICS Code | 485991 |
| Industry Title | Special Needs Transportation |
| Sector | 48-49 (Transportation and Warehousing) |
| Industry Group | 485 |
| Last Updated | 2022 NAICS Edition (Next NAICS Edition will come in 2027) |
What Does NAICS Code 485991 Cover?
According to the official 2022 NAICS data, code 485991 covers establishments primarily engaged in providing special needs transportation to passengers who are elderly, disabled, or have medical conditions that require special accommodation.
In simple terms, this is the code for businesses that transport people who need physical assistance getting to their destination, but who do not require emergency medical intervention while in the vehicle. For NEMT businesses, this includes:
- Wheelchair-accessible van services (both ambulatory and non-ambulatory)
- Stretcher transportation for non-emergency hospital discharges or transfers
- Paratransit services for seniors or disabled individuals
- Transporting patients to and from routine medical appointments (like dialysis, physical therapy, or chemotherapy)
- Door-to-door transit services requiring specialized driver assistance
The important distinction here is specialized transport without medical intervention. This code covers the physical act of safely transporting a medically fragile or mobility-impaired person from point A to point B using specially equipped vehicles. It does not cover vehicles equipped with sirens and lights where paramedics provide emergency medical care en route.
Does My NEMT Business Qualify for Code 485991?
Your business qualifies for NAICS code 485991 if:
- You operate vans or specialized vehicles equipped with wheelchair lifts or stretcher mounts
- Your main source of revenue comes from transporting patients to routine medical appointments
- Your drivers provide physical assistance (like helping a passenger into a wheelchair) but do not provide medical treatment
Your business may not qualify if:
- You operate emergency vehicles with sirens and lights and provide life-saving medical care en route, which falls under 621910 (Ambulance Services) instead
- Your primary service is sending a nurse or medical aide to the patient’s home to provide healthcare, and the transport is just incidental to that medical visit, which falls under 621610 (Home Health Care Services) instead
- You operate a standard taxi or rideshare service for the general public without specialized medical transport equipment, which falls under 485310 (Taxi and Limousine Service) instead
When your business sits between two codes, always classify based on whichever activity generates the most revenue.
Where Will You Need This Code?
Your NAICS code appears in more places than most NEMT owners expect. Here is where code 485991 will be required:
- Medicaid and State Contracts. This is highly critical. State Medicaid programs are the largest payers for NEMT services. When you apply to become a Medicaid provider, the state agency uses your NAICS code to classify your business and set your reimbursement rates.
- SBA Loan Applications and Size Standards. The Small Business Administration uses this code to determine your size standard. For NAICS 485991, the SBA defines a small business as one with $19 million or less in average annual receipts. This is essential to know if you want to bid on government contracts reserved for small businesses.
- Commercial Auto Insurance. Insurance providers use this code to calculate your premiums for Commercial Auto Liability and Physical Damage coverage. NEMT vehicles carry exceptionally high liability due to the physical vulnerability of the passengers and the use of heavy hydraulic lifts.
- NEMT Broker Onboarding. If you contract with third-party NEMT brokers (like Modivcare or LogistiCare) to receive trip dispatches, they will require your NAICS code to set up your vendor profile.
- Business Registration. Most state and local business registration portals ask for your NAICS code when you set up a new LLC, corporation, or DBA.
485991 in the NAICS Hierarchy
Every NAICS code sits inside a structured hierarchy. Here is exactly where 485991 fits:
| Level | Code | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | 48-49 | Transportation and Warehousing |
| Subsector | 485 | Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation |
| Industry Group | 4859 | Other Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation |
| NAICS Industry | 48599 | Special Needs Transportation |
| National Industry | 485991 | Special Needs Transportation |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SBA size standard for a NEMT company?
According to the Small Business Administration, a NEMT business classified under NAICS code 485991 is considered “small” if it has $19 million or less in average annual receipts. Knowing this threshold is vital if you want to qualify for small business set-aside contracts on SAM.gov.
What is the difference between NEMT (485991) and Ambulance Services (621910)?
The difference is the level of medical urgency. Code 485991 (NEMT) is for scheduled, pre-arranged transportation for routine medical appointments where no emergency care is needed during the trip. Code 621910 (Ambulance Services) is for emergency, unscheduled transports where the vehicle is equipped for and the crew provides life-saving medical intervention. If your vehicles do not have red lights and sirens, you are a NEMT.
Does code 485991 cover a business that just dispatches trips but doesn’t own the vans?
If you operate a dispatch center or brokerage that coordinates trips for other NEMT providers but do not own the vehicles or employ the drivers, your classification might differ. You could fall under 488510 (Freight Transportation Arrangement) or 488990 (Other Support Activities for Transportation), depending on your exact contractual relationship with the fleets.
Can my NEMT business also do standard taxi rides?
Yes, but you must classify your business based on the activity that generates the majority of your revenue. If 80% of your trips are specialized wheelchair transports and 20% are standard taxi rides, your primary code remains 485991. If your business flips and becomes primarily a standard taxi service, you would need to reclassify under 485310.