Billing for Ambulance Scenarios Involving Death Solemn Subject This week we address a rather solemn subject. While none of us care to admit it, there are times when our best life-saving efforts are unable to change the course of events and our patients succumb due to medical emergencies and/or trauma...
Emergency! – Digging Deeper to Define Lights and Sirens Myth This billing office is often questioned about what constitutes an emergency for the purposes of billing and collecting payment. There’s a myth in EMS that any ambulance incident that necessitates the use of “lights and sirens” is an emergency. It’s...
Illegal Drugs and EMS Impact- Staying Afloat An Epidemic The Washington Post devoted an entire byline story in 2015 to one Pennsylvania County; The heroin epidemic’s toll: One county, 70 minutes, eight overdoses (The Washington Post, Bernstein, August 23, 2015) By the time that day had ended, 16 overdose calls were dispatched...
Take Time to Remember Holiday Weekend The first holiday weekend of what we consider to be the “summer season” is upon us. In the United States we take time to remember those who have given their all, their very lives, so we who remain can live in freedom. We set...
Origins and Destinations Where am I? We were reminded when adding some new facility locations into our ambulance billing office computer system this week how confusing the types of facilities can become. Today, a single pick-up and/or drop-off location for an ambulance can serve several capacities. Literally one address, one...
L.A.T.T.D. = Billing Success Often asked… Our billing office is often asked the question by EMS agency administrators; “What do we need to do to collect the most dollars?” Simple question, not-so-easy answer. However, you can put forth a plan that we refer to as L.A.T.T.D. and you’ll find that...
Patients are Changing—What’s the Effect? In all 50 States… We stumbled across these startling statistics this week. In all 50 States of this United States of America the following numbers apply: 50%- All 50 States now have an obesity rate higher than one-half of the population 48%- Percentage of persons...
Insurance Coverage Doesn’t Mean Insurance Payment This year, for the first time in 8 years, we’ll elect a new President in the United States of America. Healthcare issues have been on the radar screen for many years. President Obama brought us the Affordable Care Act or “Obamacare”. Much has been...
When Other Healthcare Disciplines Don’t Know Ambulance “I worked in healthcare.” One recent caller to our billing office started a conversation in this way when he called to question his ambulance bill. The patient called because he had received notice that we had billed Medicare on behalf of one of...
ICD-10 Ushers in “New” Concepts Good Day of Training! Last week, in this space, we talked about the importance of training for the billing office. We made the point that the billing office is vital to the success and “health” of your EMS agency and as such training is vital...
