5 things the public needs to know about EMS
We are regularly reminded that the communities we serve know little about EMS costs, challenges and services provided
Help your community learn about EMS and the financial challenges of prehospital health care by sharing this article with your Facebook friends. Copy and paste the five points into a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. Invite a TV reporter to the station to describe how your EMS agency is addressing and overcoming these challenges. Share the links to your letters and news stories in the comments.
After reading this story on nonpaying responses in Pennsylvania and another one about a "surprise bill" for a paramedic response in California, I am beginning to wonder whether EMS reimbursement is one of this country’s greatest secrets. It seems like every week, someone is shocked about EMS’ financial state of affairs.
So in the spirit of a public service announcement that you can share with your community, let me shine some light on this matter:
1. EMS is not free
There are fixed costs of readiness — personnel, stations, supplies, ambulances and training — and response costs — fuel, disposable supplies, and reporting. There is an important corollary; even if your community's 911 emergency response is provided by a volunteer organization, it still isn’t free. Guaranteeing an EMS response, volunteer or paid, costs money.
2. No, your property taxes don’t cover EMS call response
This may not be true in all jurisdictions, but it is certainly true in many. It’s painfully so in areas where government demands a private company to provide the service at no cost, for the privilege of billing the patient for its efforts.
3. No, your insurance doesn’t cover EMS calls
Some insurance programs will cover the entire cost of an EMS response, except for a co-pay. But most insurance companies don’t. Medicare reimbursement falls short of paying for the full cost. Medicaid reimbursement is even worse. Let’s say that Medicaid might cover the cost a fuel for the day. Maybe. And here’s the kicker. Some contractual agreements prohibit agencies from billing the balance of the bill to the patient and some volunteer agencies choose not to bill the patient.
4. When you pay your exorbitant ambulance bill, you are paying for those who aren’t paying
This isn’t just an EMS oddity. Welcome to the world of health care cost distribution. For every individual who cannot or will not pay their fair share, there are many others who need to cover that shortfall. Emergency medical response and emergency care is this country’s form of socialized medicine. It’s existed since EMTALA was enacted in 1986. We cannot withhold care from you, regardless of your ability to pay.
5. EMS will respond regardless of the situation
Because that’s what we do. EMS providers perform all sorts of non-emergency care ranging from a lift assist to making a cup of tea to simply listening to a lonely widow in the middle of the night.
Responding to these social service requests and well-being checks is an everyday event for EMS providers. And we mostly do it gladly and with compassion and respect. Most EMS providers frankly don’t care about the billing, even though we know it helps put food on our tables, puts a roof over our heads, and pays for our children’s education. We will be there when you need us, if we can keep the ambulance fueled and running.
