Express Medical Transporters

Express Medical Transporters (EMT) operates as a specialized provider of non-emergency medical and student transportation services, primarily centered in the St. Louis, Missouri metropolitan area and extending into parts of Illinois and Cumberland, Maryland. The company was founded in 1996 by Bernie Squitieri, who drew upon his previous experience as a general manager of a taxi company to establish the business. The implementation of a federal managed healthcare program in the 1990s, which required states to provide transportation for Medicaid recipients, contributed to the company's initial growth.

EMT's business model is centered on contractual relationships with a diverse client base. This includes city, county, and federal agencies, hospitals, school districts, nursing homes, and other institutions with special-needs clientele. The company serves over 50 such clients. Revenue is generated by providing ambulatory, para-lift, and stretcher transportation services. In addition to institutional contracts, EMT also offers its services to individuals and families for private transport needs, such as rides to grocery stores or special events. The company accepts various insurance plans, including private-pay and Medicaid billing solutions.

The service portfolio is comprehensive, addressing a range of mobility needs. For individuals with limited mobility, EMT offers wheelchair-lift-equipped vehicles and stretcher vans. The company also provides specialized transportation for bariatric patients, utilizing vehicles equipped with Stryker cots capable of handling individuals weighing over 500 pounds. A dedicated portion of its fleet is also designated for the transport of COVID-19 patients, following specific safety protocols. Beyond medical transport, EMT has a significant operation in student transportation, assisting school districts with rides for students with special needs, those in transitional housing under the McKinney-Vento Act, and those requiring transport to out-of-district locations.

In June 2014, The Firefly Group, a private equity firm, acquired Express Medical Transporters. This was followed by a financing round on August 5, 2014, which included a subordinated debt and equity investment from Mosaic Capital Partners and Pine Street Capital Partners. Following the acquisition, Bernie Squitieri, the original founder, sold the company for a reported $26 million. After a period, he launched a competing service in 2018.

Keywords: non-emergency medical transportation, student transportation, NEMT, para-lift services, stretcher transportation, bariatric transport, wheelchair transport, special needs student transport, healthcare logistics, patient transport services, Medicaid transportation, hospital discharge transport, dialysis transportation, school district transport solutions, assisted living transport, ambulatory transportation, McKinney-Vento student transport, senior transportation, medical appointment rides, facility evacuation transport