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Emergency Medical Services – FAQs

Why is Jackson Township considering billing for EMS Transport?

Beginning in January 2005, the Jackson Township Division of Fire and EMS  began investigating a billing program for emergency medical transport services.  EMS billing is aimed at defraying some of the costs associated with emergency medical service and is expected to save township taxpayers up to $900,000 a year.  On March 21, 2006 The Board of Trustee’s approved EMS transportation billing in Jackson township.  They set the effective date for April 1, 2006.

Instead of the township being responsible for the entire cost of all emergency transports, EMS billing collects from existing funds available within Medicare, Medicaid and commercial insurance policies.  If residents and/or family members are provided with emergency medical transportation services to a local hospital, a bill for the transport will be sent directly to the insurance company, Medicare or Medicaid.  Private and government health insurance plans include provisions for EMS transportation.  The practice of EMS billing is becoming common throughout the country with approximately 85% of communities nationwide participating.

Maintaining a superior level of service requires ongoing financial support from our residents.  As the requests for service continue to increase, fire department income has not kept pace.  At the center of this issue are several factors – the county’s reduction in effective millage, cuts in state-level Tangible Personal Property tax and a series of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) agreements with commercial and residential developers in Grove City.  All of these have lead to a decrease in funding.

Our goal, therefore, is to generate revenue that will maintain and enhance the exceptional safety services to the community currently provided by the Jackson Township Fire Department.

The concept of billing for EMS transport is a basic user fee.  A user fee only affects those individuals who use the service, including non-residents.  The Township reviewed several alternatives, and found this method increases revenues without affecting the entire population like a property tax.

EMS transport billing reduces the overall cost of service to taxpayers by generating revenue from two distinct areas: insurance coverage and non-residents.  The Federal laws requires us to bill all patients, both resident and non residents, but the same law allows the Township to invoice only the patient’s insurance company or Medicare, and does not require us to bill those who cannot pay or are indigent.

Insurance:

Ohio law requires insurance providers to provide coverage for emergency ambulance transports.  Because insurers are required to provide the coverage, they charge insurance holders for that coverage.  Both private and government health insurance plans include provisions for EMS ambulance transportation.

Insurance holders have already paid for the ambulance transport in their premiums.  If we do not collect the fees for the ambulance transport to help reduce the burden to the taxpayer, the money remains with the insurance company as profit to them.

No insurance or the ability to pay for transport

If you feel you need emergency medical attention, don’t hesitate, dial 9-1-1.  Your health is our first priority.  You will be treated and transported to the hospital if needed.  No one will be denied care for any reason.

What if the insurance companies sends me the check to cover my EMS transport?

On occasion you may receive a check  from your insurance company that is payment for the EMS transportation provided by Jackson Township.

Please forward this payment on to the Jackson Township Fire Department for credit to your account.  You can mail this payment to PO Box 517,  Grove City, OH 43123 or drop in off at 3750 Hoover Rd. Grove City, OH 43123
M-F 8-4:30

*Any person who receives payment for services provided by Jackson Township and does not forward the payment to Jackson Township will be subject to legal action.

Resident and Non Residents:

DEFINITIONS:

Resident
A resident shall be defined as a person whose domicile is located within the jurisdiction of Jackson Township / Grove City / Urbancrest, Ohio.  A resident is either the owner of real property or a tenant residing upon real property in the community.

Non-Resident
A non-resident shall be defined as someone who maintains their domicile outside the jurisdiction of Jackson Township / Grove City / Urbancrest, Ohio.  For purposes of example, a non-resident may include, but not be limited to, the guest of a resident, a commuter traveling through the community, an employee of a business operating within the community or a customer engaged in shopping, dining, or entertainment within the community.

Residents

How This Affects – Residents

  1. Your treatment and transport will be carried out in the same professional manner as always.
  2. Our EMS crews will treat your illness and/or injury, then determine if transportation to the hospital is necessary.
  3. If we transport you, our EMS crews will gather patient information that will be forwarded to a third party billing agency contracted by the Township and specializing in EMS billing.
  4. Your insurance company or Medicare/Medicaid would be billed for the run.  The fire department’s third part billing company will submit transport claims to Medicaid, Medicare, or private insurance or your behalf.
  5. We understand that some of our residents do not have insurance.  You will still receive the excellent care you desire and expect.  Those without insurance will not receive a bill.
  6. Our residents will not receive a bill for a EMS transportation or for any outstanding balance on a claim, even if they do not have insurance.  This is an important point!  Our billing program will bill only insurances companies or Medicare/Medicaid.

Residents may receive a letter and or a call to request or verify insurance information if it wasn’t obtained in full at the time of the EMS transport.  Our billing program accepts the fact that you, as a resident of the Jackson Township, Grove City and Urbancrest, already pay your portion through taxes and you will not be responsible for any fees not covered by insurance or Medicare.  Even if you have no insurance or the claim is denied, you will not be receive a bill.

As a resident of  Jackson Township, Grove City, or Urbancrest, you will NOT be responsible for any direct payment of EMS transport fees.

How can I afford the new Emergency Medical Service ambulance fees?

Nothing will change for you the resident.  Your treatment and transport will be carried out in the same professional manner as always.

We may bill your primary and/or secondary insurance to recover this cost if your insurance does not pay, or does not pay the entire amount.  Residents will not be responsible for any unpaid balances.

Non-Residents

How This Affects – Non-Residents

Because the fire department transports any person requiring emergency medical care, regardless of their residency, a fair number of patients transported annually are not residents, and do not pay for the services they’re using.

  1. Our EMS crews will treat your illness and/or injury, then determine if transportation to the hospital is necessary.
  2. If we transport you, our EMS crews will gather patient information that will be forwarded to a third party billing agency contracted by the Township and specializing in EMS billing.
  3. Your insurance company or Medicare/Medicaid would be billed for the run.  The fire department’s third part billing company will submit transport claims to Medicaid, Medicare, or private insurance or your behalf.
  4. We understand that some of our non-residents do not have insurance.  You will still receive the excellent care you desire and expect.
  5. You will receive a bill for any balance not paid by are/Medicaid/private insurance, or the entire amount if they do not have insurance.
  6. Non-Residents may receive a letter and or a call to request or verify insurance information if it wasn’t obtained in full at the time of the EMS transport.

Who are these non-residents?

Jackson Township/Grove City/Urbancrest has three large, non-resident populations:

  1. Shoppers in our commercial districts,
  2. Employees in our commercial districts,
  3. Commuters on the highways that travel through the community,
  4. Friends and family visiting from outside of Jackson Township.

EMS billing ensures that when these people use our service, they also help support it!

How will funds collected from EMS Transport billing be spent?

A separate fund will be established for the receipt of monies generated from EMS transport billing.  These funds will be used to enhance Fire and EMS services provided by section 505.84 of the Ohio Revised Code.  The Code allows this money to be used for the payment of management, maintenance costs, and the operation of emergency medical services in the Township.

How will my service delivery change?

The new ambulance fees should have a minimal impact on citizens.  Your health is our first priority.  The financial details are secondary to your need for medical attention.  We realize that you may have no insurance.  Please rest assured that no one would be denied medical attention because of their inability to pay the ambulance/transportation fees.

Will Medicare cover the ambulance/transportation fee?

We are required by law to accept the Medicare allowable amount and cannot bill for the difference between the allowable and the established fee.

Medicare has a maximum amount they will pay for ambulance fees.  You may also have Medicare Supplemental Insurance, which would cover any fees not paid by Medicare.

Can I still be taken to the hospital of my choice?

Our paramedics will continue transporting patients to these hospitals:

Mount Carmel West OSU Medical Center Children’s Hospital
Doctors Hospital Riverside Medical Center OSU University Hospital East
Grant Medical Center

The choice of hospitals is yours, unless the need arises to transport you to the nearest hospital.

Mount Carmel East, St. Ann’s in Westerville, and Berger Hospital in Circleville are out of our normal service area and we will not transport to these hospitals except under certain circumstances.

Will I be charged if I call for medical services but don’t go to a hospital?

No.  The established fees are for providing the service of transporting patients to the hospitals located in our service area.

What other communities currently bill for Emergency Medical Services?

Franklin Township Jefferson Township/Blacklick Grandview Heights
Mifflin Township/Gahanna Plain Township/New Albany City of Columbus
Prairie Township City of Worthington
Clinton Township City of Whitehall

In fact more than 900,000 residents in Franklin County are covered by departments that bill for EMS transports.

Approximately 85 percent of the all EMS providers in the country bills for EMS transports!  In Ohio, the vast majority of the EMS providers’ bill for EMS transports too.

Will the fire department charge for other services?

No, EMS transportation billing does not apply to service calls such as carbon monoxide and smoke detector checks, assistance and other customer service runs.  Fires, gas leaks, motor vehicle accident rescues/stabilization  and other non-medical emergency services will also not be billed.

If I have a question or concern, who should I speak to?

Any questions or concerns regarding EMS transportation charges, delivery of Emergency Medical Services or Privacy of Health Care issues ( HIPPA)  should be directed to Deputy Chief Rick Dawson,  EMS Billing Coordinator at 614-875-5588.

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