Why did my ambulance ride cost so much?

 Northwestern Municipal EMS made the decision in 2008 that its citizens deserved the highest level of emergency medical care possible. Therefore, the Board of Municipalities voted to staff the department with emergency medical professionals trained at the highest level possible. With this training, paramedics can provide advanced life support that will improve outcomes for victims of medical and trauma emergencies.

The drive to the most appropriate hospital is a very small portion of what the paramedics do as part of our service. The unit responding to your emergency is actually a mini-rolling emergency room that is stocked with life-saving equipment and medicine to treat and stabilize patients suffering from life threatening emergencies.

The level of care the patient receives from the paramedics on the rescue is what is important and what most of the ambulance bill reflects. Service fees are designed to cover the cost associated with providing ongoing emergency transport services within the response jurisdiction. Even though these service fees may seem high, the costs of service among municipal emergency transport providers are usually much lower than private ambulance services. As a side note, emergency transport service fees are approved by the Municipal Ambulance Board in order to continue operations.

Mileage is based on actual miles from the point of pick-up to the receiving hospital.

Medicare sets the rates they allow agencies to charge for the type of emergency — basic life support, advanced life support and advanced 2 life support. They also set the rates for co-pays and mileage. By law, we cannot bill Medicare patients for more than the Medicare-approved rate, and we must bill for the co-pay or co-insurance amount. However, if Medicare declines or denies the claim due to the nature of the transport, e.g., non-emergency transports which did not require ambulance service, payment of the full bill is the responsibility of the patient.

Patients may refuse transport if they do not wish to be taken to the hospital by ambulance, but will be required to sign a release form indicating the medical personnel have explained the possible dangers or consequences of not seeking further medical treatment and there is a small charge for the response and any scene care delivered. If the patients require ALS scene care, the ALS base rate is charged in full according to the policy of the board.

There are also times EMS personnel are required by law to transport a patient, even if the patient does not wish to be transported — when the patient is not mentally or physically capable of making a sound decision regarding their medical care, when the patient may be a danger to himself or others or when the patient is in custody by the police department, the bill is the legal responsibility of the patient, parent or guardian.