Think twice before calling 911 in PG County

For Immediate Release: July 02, 2008
Contact: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930
Prince George’s County, MD - Fire/EMS : Our Stations (Homepage)
Index Document (Newsroom)

Ambulance Transport Fee Implemented

The Prince George’s County Fire/Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department began charging for EMS transport on July 1, 2008. Prince George’s County citizens and residents who have health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid will not pay any costs for ambulance service - insurance payments will be accepted as payment in full. There will be no additional co-payment or deductible.

For county citizens and residents who are uninsured, the Department will work with residents to ensure no one suffers financial hardship as a result of ambulance transport.

Firefighters/Medics and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT’s) will deliver the same high quality medical care and service that citizens, residents and visitors expect and depend upon. There will be no change in the way medical care is provided; it will be transparent to the patient. Personal information will continue to be gathered by medical staff at the hospital. Additionally, personal privacy will be protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Charges for ambulance transport include: $500 for Basic Life Support transport, $650 for Advanced Life-1 Support transport and $750 for Advanced Life Support-2 transport. There is also a $5 per loaded transport mile - from pick-up point to the hospital for ground transport. There will be no charge if there is no transport.

Basic Life Support (BLS) is transportation by ground ambulance vehicle and the provision of medically necessary supplies and services, including BLS ambulance services as defined by the state. The ambulance must be staffed by an individual who is qualified in accordance with state and local laws as an emergency medical technician-basic (EMT-B). These laws may vary from state to state or within a state. For example, an EMT-B is permitted to operate limited equipment onboard the vehicle, assist more qualified personnel in performing assessments and interventions, and establish a peripheral intravenous (IV) line.

Advanced Life Support (ALS-1) is the transportation by ground ambulance vehicle and the provision of medically necessary supplies and services including the provision of an ALS assessment or at least one ALS intervention.

Advanced Life Support, Level 2 (ALS-2) is the transportation by ground ambulance vehicle and the provision of medically necessary supplies and services including: (1) at least three separate administrations of one or more medications by intravenous push/bolus or by continuous infusion (excluding crystalloid fluids); or (2) ground ambulance transport and the provision of at least one of the ALS-2 procedures.

No one will ever be denied county ambulance service based on ability to pay or the lack of insurance. There are provisions for those without medical insurance and/or the ability to pay the transport fee.

When citizens, residents and visitors need emergency help, they should call 9-1-1 without hesitation

[MMDad]

Originally Posted by eng69ine

Charges for ambulance transport include: $500 for Basic Life Support transport, $650 for Advanced Life-1 Support transport and $750 for Advanced Life Support-2 transport. There is also a $5 per loaded transport mile - from pick-up point to the hospital for ground transport. There will be no charge if there is no transport.

I agree with charging those who have insurance, but those who don't can't usually pay the fees they are charging. It almost seems like social engineering - discouraging the poor from getting help to save their lives, thereby "cleansing" the gene pool.

On the other hand, maybe it will discourage those who use EMS as a taxi service....

[greeneyes36]

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Originally Posted by MMDad

I agree with charging those who have insurance, but those who don't can't usually pay the fees they are charging. It almost seems like social engineering - discouraging the poor from getting help to save their lives, thereby "cleansing" the gene pool.

On the other hand, maybe it will discourage those who use EMS as a taxi service....

very much the intent. you would not believe half of the nonsense up the road that the EMS service is called out for. lived there many years and ex-hubby is paid firefighter there. unbelievable some of the scenarios.

[Jeff (Premo)]

I am good with the idea of paying. Not a problem.

But when do my taxes go down?

[MMDad]

Originally Posted by greeneyes36

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very much the intent. you would not believe half of the nonsense up the road that the EMS service is called out for. lived there many years and ex-hubby is paid firefighter there. unbelievable some of the scenarios.

It's no different down here. "Generalized sick call" is what they say when someone calls for a ride.

You'd be surprised how many people use 911 to get to the hospital for a routine childbirth. They had 9 months warning, and still couldn't arrange a ride?

[greeneyes36]

Originally Posted by MMDad

It's no different down here. "Generalized sick call" is what they say when someone calls for a ride.

You'd be surprised how many people use 911 to get to the hospital for a routine childbirth. They had 9 months warning, and still couldn't arrange a ride?

that's not fair.... deliveries sometimes come with little warning... luckily, i didnt have that problem... but hubby worked shiftwork and nights were scarey when it came down to 2 months of premature labor issues and then the real deal hit. who has time to wait for that ride -- gotta call them, they gotta get dressed, get in the car and drive 10-15 minutes to pick you up and then the 15 minute ride to the hospital. firehouse is 2 miles away -- i wouldve surely felt more comfortable going priority 2 to the hospital vs. waiting on that ride in the middle of the night! especially with premature labor issues i had for 2-3 months prior. you carry that baby and see how relaxed you are when it starts to come and you're waiting on so-and-so to come get you. get real... we're talking nose-bleeds and broken toes/fingers... childbirth is real reason to call 911 if no other choice available...and that "ride" doesnt always pan out - my "ride" that i'd arrange 7 months earlier for the nights when hubby was working broke her ankle two weeks prior to my delivery... your post made me laugh though...

Its going to suck when we get all of the ROUTINE ambo calls to 9211 Pine View Lane or 7520 Surratts Road for the nursing homes, that are less than a mile from Southern Maryland Hospital....... I think Company 25 should have two ambulances for the amount of calls we run in their first due!!!

[Beelzebaby666]

Originally Posted by eng69ine

Its going to suck when we get all of the ROUTINE ambo calls to 9211 Pine View Lane or 7520 Surratts Road for the nursing homes, that are less than a mile from Southern Maryland Hospital....... I think Company 25 should have two ambulances for the amount of calls we run in their first due!!!

The place I work has a sad number of folks there who's local families won't even return our phone calls or who don't have any near by. I hate calling 911 because someone is simply lonely or because they just didn't poop right one time, but it happens.

[OldHillcrestGuy]

Originally Posted by eng69ine

Its going to suck when we get all of the ROUTINE ambo calls to 9211 Pine View Lane or 7520 Surratts Road for the nursing homes, that are less than a mile from Southern Maryland Hospital....... I think Company 25 should have two ambulances for the amount of calls we run in their first due!!!

Two ambulances wont help, look how many a certain company in St. Mary's has (ambo's) and a certain company from Charles still runs about 50% of the calls to the Chatlotte Hall Veterans Home.
Stop fussing once you get there (PineView and Surratts) and transport, one your across the street the other one your 2 miles away from the hospital. Try getting there (CHVH)and have to transport, your at least another 15 miles to one of the 3 hospitals and then still have another 15 miles to get back to the station.

Originally Posted by OldHillcrestGuy

Two ambulances wont help, look how many a certain company in St. Mary's has (ambo's) and a certain company from Charles still runs about 50% of the calls to the Chatlotte Hall Veterans Home.
Stop fussing once you get there (PineView and Surratts) and transport, one your across the street the other one your 2 miles away from the hospital. Try getting there (CHVH)and have to transport, your at least another 15 miles to one of the 3 hospitals and then still have another 15 miles to get back to the station.

The old people at the VH just wanna see the Ice Cream Truck thats all!!!!