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EMS billing outsourced to third party
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| By: Mark J. Crawford, Editor |
January 22, 2009 |
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The county has approved a contract to allow a third party to collect on bills for emergency medical services.
EMS Director Allen Parrish recommended the move. The EMS service he supervises in Union County that also contracts with the same firm.
County Manager Brad Carter agreed with the move and said it should significantly increase the collection rate. He was confident, in fact, that the arrangement with Diversified Ambulance Billing of Tampa would more than pay for itself.
Still, Carter cautiously referred to the arrangement as a trial. If the county does not realize an increase in revenue, there is sufficient protection for the county to be able to exit the agreement, he said.
Collecting on money owed for services provided has been an issue for EMS, as has the separation of accounting duties, which is noted annually in the county's financial audit. Carter said outsourcing collections will take care of that accounting issue as well.
Staff members who have been responsible for billing will focus on other areas of responsibilities. There is one currently unfilled position in the EMS office that will not be filled as a result of the new contract.
Public service should not experience an interruption, Carter said. On the contrary, things should run more efficiently, he said. While the billing office will be out of the area, the public will still be able to get answers locally, he said.
The company will earn 5.5 percent of whatever amount it is able to collect for the county. The county will be piggybacking on the contract given to Clay County to get that rate. The same rate will be available to Union County, resulting in a savings.
As for unpaid bills that the contractor is unable to collect on, those will be turned over to a collection agency. The goal is to reduce the number of write-offs the county incurs every year.
The collection agency would have to be selected after advertising for bids, Parrish said.
Grant requested for ambulance, stretcher
The board approved by the application of two grants for EMS.
Parrish said the first would be used to purchase several hydraulic stretchers, needed to help move larger patients.
"This is quickly becoming standard in our industry, to have these hydraulic ... power-operated stretchers to assist our crews in lifting," Parrish said.
There are probably 10-20 different lifting injuries in the county annually, said Parrish.
"And then we've had several delays in transporting patients, waiting for someone to come pick them up," he said.
The total grant would be for round $50,000, and the county would need to make a 25 percent contribution, or match.
The second grant would fund the purchase of a new ambulance and require a 10 percent match from the county.
Total purchase price for the ambulance is estimated at between $120,000-$125,000.
County Clerk Ray Norman said if EMS revenue increases as expected under the new contract for billing services, there should more than likely be enough money available for the county commission to contribute to those purchases.
Parrish said if the money doesn't go toward purchasing a new ambulance it would likely go toward repairing the unit in need of replacement.
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©Bradford County Telegraph 2009
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