Majority of 2022 Ground Ambulance Rides Were Out of Network

Sunday, September 17, 2023

Patients often have little choice of ambulance provider, and federal law doesn't protect them from surprise bills from the rides.

Posted by LampLighter at 04:33 PM | 18 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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More from the article...

... Dive Brief:

- - - Out-of-network ground ambulance rides made up a larger percentage of total claim lines than in-network rides between 2018 to 2022, exposing patients to a higher risk of surprise bills, according to an analysis by Fair Health.

- - - Out-of-network rides made up almost 64% of all ground ambulance claim lines in 2018, decreasing slightly to over 59% in 2022.

- - - Advanced life support (ALS) services, which provide a higher level of care than basic life support (BLS), comprised a larger share of ground ambulance claims than basic life support services from 2018 to 2022 " another factor that could drive up costs, the research found. About 51% to 52% of ground ambulance claim lines were associated with ALS during the study period. ...

#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2023-09-14 12:34 PM | Reply

Whaddaya know.

More bad decisions and stupid choices by poor people.

#2 | Posted by snoofy at 2023-09-14 12:58 PM | Reply

Shouldn't ambulances be going to the closest hospital unless their patient or someone that speaks for them demands they go to a different one?

#3 | Posted by Tor at 2023-09-14 02:52 PM | Reply

If I think I can last fifteen minutes, I'm Ubering it.

#4 | Posted by censored at 2023-09-14 08:57 PM | Reply

@#3 ... Shouldn't ambulances be going to the closest hospital unless their patient or someone that speaks for them demands they go to a different one?...

My view is that the issue here is "which ambulance" and not "which hospital shoud the ambulance go to?"

Have ambulance "services" now gained the reputation of "ambulance-chasing" lawyers?

My doctor once prescribed an MRI for me.

So I went to the local hospital for the MRI as instructed.

I got the MRI.

A couple weeks later I got an invoice in the mail.

It was from the company that viewed and interpreted my MRI image(s).

The letter (almost gloatingly) stated that the company (which I had no choice in selecting) does not participate in any insurance coverage, and that I need to pay them directly some outrageous fee.

I checked up on them, and it was not a scam. My insurance company just said, ~pay them what you owe them.~

Health care for a profit, what a scam....

#5 | Posted by LampLighter at 2023-09-14 09:19 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Health care for a profit, what a scam.... #5 | Posted by LampLighter

One of the few businesses that don't tell you ahead of time what they're going to charge unless you jump through all sorts of hoops.

I always shop around after I heard that a local hospital charges >$10K for an MRI, while a facility 20 minutes away charges $500.

#6 | Posted by censored at 2023-09-14 09:50 PM | Reply

@#6 ... One of the few businesses that don't tell you ahead of time what they're going to charge unless you jump through all sorts of hoops. ...

Based upon my experience, as cited above, they seem to prey upon the patient not selecting the care provided.

The hospital selected the company to view my MRI images.

I had no choice, nor was I informed of the choice the hospital made for me.

Was there a kickback involved between the hospital that did the MRI and the company that analyzed that MRI?

I've not a clue.

All I know is that I was not a participant in a decision that cost me hundreds of dollars.

Healthcare for a profit.

#7 | Posted by LampLighter at 2023-09-14 09:55 PM | Reply

The hospital selected the company to view my MRI images. I had no choice, nor was I informed of the choice the hospital made for me. Was there a kickback involved between the hospital that did the MRI and the company that analyzed that MRI? I've not a clue. All I know is that I was not a participant in a decision that cost me hundreds of dollars. Healthcare for a profit. #7 | Posted by LampLighter

Unfortunately, we have to push for information and alternatives. Something that not many Americans are trained to do. In fact, we're trained for the opposite.

It's considered bad form in this country to ask what stuff costs, particularly when it comes to medical care. Like we should be ashamed to ask how we're going to spend tens of thousands of dollars. And then the providers make out like bandits on that social norm, like charging ~$500-$1,000 for a mouthguard that costs $20 to make and which they paid $50 for from the manufacturer.

#8 | Posted by censored at 2023-09-15 07:25 AM | Reply

And if you think this wouldn't prevent someone from calling 911 for a medical emergency you're fooling yourself

#9 | Posted by truthhurts at 2023-09-15 09:11 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

That's the nature of an emergency. They may not always happen within your network.

With these "surprise" bills in mind, remember this.

If your life isn't worth it to you, allow the responders to stabilize you and them find your own way to the hospital.

It's free until you get into the truck..

Well it is around here.

#10 | Posted by RomeoAlpha at 2023-09-17 05:58 PM | Reply

How much did it cost to airlift bunker bitch to Walter Reed?

#11 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2023-09-17 06:01 PM | Reply

By design I'm sure. Anything for a buck. Who's going to say no?

Capitalism baby!

#12 | Posted by fresno500 at 2023-09-17 06:41 PM | Reply

The article is full of "potential" and "could lead to surprises ... .."

And no sob story.

Anybody check their own policy? I checked mine. It will cover ground and air ambulance as in network if the ride is medically necessary ... ..if in the US.

#13 | Posted by eberly at 2023-09-17 07:03 PM | Reply

"Who's going to say no?"

People who know "it's free until you get into the truck."

I've seen at a bonfire in which a child fell in and was burned.

The family allowed the EMT's to stabilize the kid. Afterwards, they put him in the back of a pickup and took him to the local hospital.

The savings was offset when the kid was later transferred to the "city" hospital.

Another instance is a lady who had "spells" all of the time.

Whatever they were, she would allow first responders to treat her.

Then she would wait for her ride home to the hospital.

#14 | Posted by RomeoAlpha at 2023-09-18 07:02 AM | Reply

My brother in laws bill broke $2 million before he was finally able to be discharged.

#15 | Posted by sitzkrieg at 2023-09-18 05:51 PM | Reply

#15 Discharged by the Death Panel when he hit his Lifetime Maximum? ;)

#16 | Posted by snoofy at 2023-09-18 05:51 PM | Reply

Situational. I had a mild stroke in 2020. My wife drove me to the ER of the local hospital but they're not equipped to deal with strokes. Closest hospital that does is 45 minutes away. Wasn't recommended that my wife drive me because something worse could happen on the way. They wanted to life flight me but too windy. Had ambulance transport there. Initially out of network but worked with my insurance to get them in network.

(Recovered from the stroke)

PSA: Get your cholesterol and blood pressure checked. Exercise and manage your stress

#17 | Posted by Pirate at 2023-09-18 06:53 PM | Reply

#16 | POSTED BY SNOOFY AT 2023-09-18 05:51 PM | FLAG:

The Death Panel were the doctors at the level 3 that were just going to wait for him to die. One thing the whole episode really drove home was that having advocates there to speak for you when you can't is what will save your life. It took a life flight from the level 3 hospital to the level 5 in the Houston Medical Center, which nobody really thought he would survive including the flight's pilot & nurse. Got him there, stabilized him, showed enough improvement that only 1 of the heart surgeons was willing to even attempt the surgery. He's now one of her success cases taught to her surgery students.

#18 | Posted by sitzkrieg at 2023-09-18 08:19 PM | Reply