Northwood to bill for ambulance trips
4/6/2011Northwood will try to recoup ambulance-transportation costs from users who have not turned over insurance reimbursements.
A collection service will begin billing those who have been transported by Northwood Fire Department, received reimbursement checks, and kept the money.
Only a small percentage of EMS users fall into the category, but it will mean collecting an additional $5,000 to $6,000 a year, said Dennis Recker, Northwood administrator.
"We don't envision it being too big an increase of revenues, but it's legitimate," Mr. Recker said.
"It's legitimate, and it will help to the tune of $5,000 to $6,000."
That amount will double the department's training budget and be enough to help train two firefighters-emergency medical technicians for the fire department, he said. The department's ranks have been declining and need to be replenished, he said.
Northwood City Council members were apprised of the move and were assured collections would be sought only from those who received reimbursements from insurance companies, he said.
"It's … going to be a limited, very limited, version of hard billing for insurance," he said.