FREDERICKTOWN — Fredericktown Emergency Medical Services will begin billing health insurance carriers for EMS transport services effective Sept. 1.
EMS chief Rick Lanuzza said health and auto insurance policies usually include benefits for emergency transportation and have money set aside to pay for emergency transportation, but Fredericktown EMS has been providing the transport services for free.
Lanuzza said no bills will go to the residents of the ambulance district for deductibles, co-pays or the balance of what their insurance, Medicare or Medicaid did not pay. He also stressed that EMS will respond to an emergency call regardless of an individual’s insurance coverage status.
Lanuzza said that although revenues generated by the ambulance district’s 2-mill property tax remain constant, costs have increased, especially those for fuel and equipment, leaving fewer funds to pay staff.
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