Comments on: Free Ride: Escambia EMS To Write Off $2.1 Million In Ambulance Bills

By: EMS guy

EMS guy — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 06:35:17 +0000

As an EMS professional, I can assure you that just because you go by ambulance you will NOT always go straight to a room. In fact, if you have no immediate LIFE THREAT nurses and even doctors love to sit you in the triage room along with everyone else waiting in line. Abusers of the system, or our “very satisfied customers” should remember this!

The day is coming soon that just because you call for an ambulance doesn’t mean you will leave in one. Processes are already underway for community paramedics with a “doc in a box” tele-medicine system who will evaluate you at home for your actual need for transportation or not.

By: just sayin'

just sayin' — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 13:15:01 +0000

ECEMS is the only ambulance service in Esc. Co. I have BCBS insurance and ECEMS has nothing with them, which results in ECEMS being an Out of Network provider!!! One of the largest insurance group in this area and this is out of network? The one time we used them was for a real emergency and it took us a long time to pay it off, but we paid it. The service was needed and the service was good, I’m thankful my husband was ok. In the scheme of things I was happy to pay the $800 to ensure he made it to the hospital and his complications were safely attended to along the way. It just seems strange that they are the only service yet out of network with BCBS!

By: don

don — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 22:58:26 +0000

I know a couple of people that use this service for routine and non-necessary visits to ER just so that they will not have to wait but get taken right into a room.

By: David Huie Green

David Huie Green — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 21:20:29 +0000

REGARDING:
“They should let a Dr decide whether their ride was needed or not and if they decide it wasn’t needed, hold them responsible for the bill or lock them up till somebody in the family pays it This would stop a lot of this”

It would stop much of it but you would have to amend the Florida Constitution first due to Article One, Section Eleven regarding imprisonment for debt being prohibited. (Federal law also prohibits it too, but that is complicated.)

reference:
CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA
ARTICLE I
“SECTION 11. Imprisonment for debt.—No person shall be imprisoned for debt, except in cases of fraud.”

David contemplating debtors’ prisons

By: well

well — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:55:22 +0000

@dufus,
Your solution would increase jail costs also with no reimbursement for either cost.
Never any easy answers that everyone will agree too.

By: dufus

dufus — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 19:33:11 +0000

This is why insurance and ambulance rides ARE so expensive. They should let a Dr decide whether their ride was needed or not and if they decide it wasn’t needed, hold them responsible for the bill or lock them up till somebody in the family pays it This would stop a lot of this random…I NEED AN AMBULANCE!!!! I know a lot of people that could be transported by car if they really need to go. There are so many hypochondriacs in this world today, if they cough they need to run to the emergfency room….get a life and leave the hospitals to the sick

By: EMS Billing

EMS Billing — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 18:48:29 +0000

Unlike the Sheriff’s Office/PPD/Fire Dept, up until recent years EMS was self sufficient…. meaning that it operated withOUT taxpayer money. Only in recent years with medical reimbrusment cuts has ECEMS had to ask the county commission for a subsidy to continue to operate. The majority of their operational money though still comes from insurance company payouts and patients.
If you read through your medical insurance contract you will find a section that details how much/if any your insurance company will cover of an ambulance ride…. which is NOT cheap!

Unfortunately there are too many with the “Gold Card” (aka:Medicaid) who feel the need to use EMS as a free taxi ride to the mall. No lie! And due to medical liability EMS cannot refuse transport to anyone with a medical complaint.

By: Facts

Facts — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 18:25:51 +0000

Tom, you obviously are not aware of what your tax dollars cover. The taxes you pay do not cover EMS services. EMS does not receive the taxes that are meant for public safety as a lump sum. EMS actually collects from patients that are transported (and I’m sure they mess up in charging people that should not be charged) and use that to fund day to day operations. The taxes that you pay are used for equipment purchases and other expenses that are not covered by collected fees.

As always there are people complaining that they are not receiving the services that they “claim” they pay for. It is the same with fire and the sheriff’s department. You complain until you need them!!! Than they are the best thing since sliced bread.

Stop whining, pay your taxes and be thankful that there are people out there that are willing to come help you in your biggest time of need.

Have a safe day!!!

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 18:22:31 +0000

@Tom, Actually, though it is operated by the county, it is not already paid for. It operates off what it collects. In order to keep from having to use tax payer money, it has to collect from those who use the service.

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 18:10:22 +0000

EMS is a county operation, not unlike the sheriff or fire departments. We, as tax payers, already pay for this service. The sheriff doesn’t bill you to answer a complaint call for you………..Seems we are having to pay twice………Money hungry county administration.