Patient Billing Questions
Often patients have billing questions. Here are some answers that may be helpful to you. Any answers provided below are meant to be general guidelines. Always check with your insurance provider(s) regarding the specifics of your plan coverage. Healthcare billing requirements and insurance plan coverage are complex and subject to change at any time.
Ambulance transportation coverage varies between insurance providers and plans. It is important to understand your insurance coverage, its limitations and requirements. Some insurance providers require patients to obtain authorization from them prior to scheduling non-emergency transportation services. If your insurance provider does not provide 100 percent coverage for ambulance transportation, you may be required to pay a deductible or co-payment as detailed in your insurance plan. Payment of all deductibles and co-payments are due within thirty (30) days of receipt of the bill. In general, most insurance providers do not cover chair van services.
All patients are required to provide signatures to acknowledge consent for treatment and transportation, provide authorization for billing on their behalf, and to allow their medical insurance provider to pay Health-Tech Ambulance directly for services rendered. In addition, patients are required to sign acknowledging receipt of Health-Tech Ambulance Service’s Notice of Privacy Practices. Health-Tech Ambulance cannot submit a claim to a medical insurance provider without a signed authorization from the patient or responsible party (parent, guardian, spouse, next of kin or other). Failure to provide a signed authorization will require Health-Tech Ambulance to bill the patient directly for payment.
Health-Tech Ambulance provides Non-Emergency BLS Ambulance and Chair Van Services to our customers. Insurance plans may cover medically necessary non-emergency ambulance transports, but your specific insurance provider will determine whether or not ambulance transportation is covered.
Most insurance providers, with the exception of Medicaid, will not cover the cost of chair van transportation services. Some insurance providers also require prior authorization to cover non-emergency services.
It is important to become familiar with the coverage provided by your medical plan and check with your insurance provider regarding the specific requirements for payment related to non-emergency transportation.
Emergency Ambulance Transportation: In general, Medicare covers emergency ambulance services only if transportation in any other vehicle would endanger your health. Contact Medicare for questions concerning coverage specifics and exceptions.
Non-Emergency Ambulance Transportation: In general, Medicare covers limited ambulance services. Medicare will not pay for non-emergency ambulance service unless the patient is unable to get out of bed without assistance and unable to walk, unable to sit in a wheelchair, and/or transportation by any other means would endanger the patient’s health. Medicare generally doesn’t pay for ambulance transportation to a doctor’s office. Medicare does not pay for wheelchair transportation. Contact Medicare for questions concerning coverage specifics and exceptions.
For both emergency and non-emergency transportation service, Medicare will pay 80 percent of their allowable rate. The remaining 20 percent is billed to the patient or the patient’s secondary insurance provider.
Medicaid is a program funded by the state providing medical insurance to assist patients who qualify under the program. Coverage of medical services under Medicaid varies between states. Patients should make an effort to become familiar with the coverage criteria for ambulance transportation through their Medicaid program. Generally, Medicaid programs require that all ambulance transportation meet the specific medical necessity criteria established for their state. Medicaid does cover chair van services in the state of Massachusetts. Contact Medicaid for questions concerning coverage qualification, specifics and exceptions.
If a patient does not have insurance coverage, Health-Tech Ambulance will bill the patient directly for services rendered. Payment of the account is required within thirty (30) days of receipt of the invoice. Health-Tech Ambulance Service accepts personal checks, Visa and MasterCard. Patients also have the option to make payments via phone or work with our billing department to arrange a payment plan, if necessary. Patients may contact our billing office via phone at 978.470.0391 x14.
Our rates are competitive and meet all applicable local, state and federal requirements. Our medical transportation service fees include a base charge for the transport, a mileage fee and charges for other procedures, supplies or medication administered, as applicable. In addition, Health-Tech Ambulance Service has contracts with many insurance providers for reduced, agreed upon rates that save our patients money on medical transportation services.
If you need any additional information, or have a specific question regarding a bill you received, please contact our billing office via phone at 978.470.0391 x14 or email billing@healthtechambulance.com and we will be happy to assist you.
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