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What Is Cost Recovery?
Cost Recovery is the name of the program that the Hopewell Emergency Crew participates in to obtain reimbursement for services provided. With the constant rising cost of medical equipment and supplies, volunteer or not-for-profit agencies are finding it more difficult to stay above water. In addition, new laws are now taking effect which all EMS agencies must comply with. Everything has a price tag, from the ambulance that comes to transport you to the band-aid the provider may use to treat your injuries. It has now become necessary for volunteer rescue agencies to charge a fee for services provided in an attempt to try and recover a portion of the money that agency may have paid to have the equipment and supplies to provide you that service.
How Does This Program Work?
When you call 911 in need of medical help, an ambulance is dispatched to you. The providers will provide medical treatment and transportation if necessary to an appropriate medical facility. Upon completion of the incident, a report is written by the provider and submitted for processing. This report is sent to the state but also to a designated billing company. The billing company works with your insurance company to process and secure payment for services rendered. Usually it involves no work and/or hassle on your part. The main interactions are between our billing service and your insurance company.
Does This Mean You Are Now Collecting A Profit?
No. We are simply recovering a portion of the cost of the service provided. For example, if an individual requested an ambulance for shortness of breath. The provider may have to administer medicines to you to help you breath better. The medicines by themselves can cost the crew between $500.00 to $700.00 a piece. Your insurance company may only reimburse us an amount between $150.00 to $300.00 for that very same call and treatment. This means that we have only recovered a portion of the price we paid for that particular medicine and treatment. The bottom line is that Cost Recovery helps offset expenses incurred upon the crew.
What If I Don't Have Insurance And Cannot Pay?
It is important to remember that we are a public service agency and as so we are required to provide our services to anyone who request it within our scope of practice regardless of their ability to pay. Simply put, we will NOT deny medical treatment and transportation to anyone based on their ability to pay. You will receive the appropriate care no matter what. As stated before, we are not in business for profit so if you do not have insurance and cannot pay, the matter is left at that.
Are There Other Options If I Am Not Insured?
The city of Hopewell offers a program called Ride Savers. Ride Savers is a program that any citizen of Hopewell can participate in and in the event that you are in need of an ambulance, this program will take care of the cost of the ride. For a small annual fee, you can cover yourself and anyone living in your household for that entire year. The program is from July to June of each year and covers you if you are transported by either us and/or the Hopewell Bureau of Fire. Because the city of Hopewell administers this program, if you are interested, please contact the city of Hopewell's Treasurer.
Who Can I Contact For More Information On Cost Recovery?
For more information on Cost Recovery or if you have received communication from us regarding payment for services, you may contact our Division of Administrative Services, which can help you with your inquiry.
To contact the Division of Administrative Services, please click here.
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Cost Recovery
