Got a bill today. My mom's memory care facility called for an ambulance (county EMS, not private) when my mom had a fall recently. They called me on the phone, since I'm her health POA, and mentally she couldn't say for herself whether to transport or not. They told me her vitals were stable and he didn't have any indication of broken bones or anything. So I refused transport.
They have a nurse on staff, the only reason they gave me that they called was because she was on "blood thinners" but she's not on prescription blood thinners, just on low dose 81 mg aspirin a day.
Anyway, Received a bill for $282 for Evaluation/Response and $104 for supplies. They zeroed out the supplies per Medicare, but said that Medicare denied the other charges.
Didn't realize that if someone else called an ambulance for you, and you said you didn't need it, you would be responsible for a bill. Thought if you didn't transport there wasn't a charge. I was involved in a car accident and EMS was called to the scene, and I never received a bill. We can pay the bill, but it was a surprise.
I think thats what they tried to charge medicare
I swear I am not making that up, her health insurance through the town picked it up
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City run ambulances (often a firetruck combined with an ambulance bay in it) are usually cheaper, but still, they have to cover overhead, etc.
90% of my brother's business is picking up elders from off the floor, evaluating them and deciding if they require a trip to the ER. Also, transporting a person from a NH to a hospital and vice versa. There has to be a cost.
When my DH had a heart attack and we went to the closest hospital, he was ambulanced pronto to a bigger hospital which had the necessary medical equipment. A 5 mile ride cost over $2000. Insurance took care of most of that cost, but the speedy ride saved his life.
If they came to where she lives, yes, you're going to get charged.
Depends on what you're willing to go to the mat over. If the $282 isn't anything but an annoyance, just pay it. Some things are simply not worth the fight.