Overview: Delaware County Emergency Medical Services (DCEMS) is committed to providing high-quality, 24/7 ambulance coverage to the residents and visitors of Delaware County. To help offset operational costs and maintain service excellence, DCEMS bills for services provided like most other EMS providers in Delaware County. Importantly, Delaware County practices “soft-billing,” meaning patients are not sent to collections for unpaid services. DCEMS is dedicated to fair and equal treatment of all patients, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. Billing services are managed by a third-party vendor, Quick Med Claims LLC, based in Pittsburgh, PA. Billing is not performed in-house by Delaware County employees.
For questions about your bill or to provide insurance information for billing purposes, please call 888-410-2675.
Purpose: This document outlines DCEMS’s billing practices, ensuring transparency, consistency, and fairness in how emergency medical services are billed and managed.
Who Does This Apply To?
- All patients receiving emergency medical services from DCEMS, including both residents and non-residents of Delaware County.
- Federal regulations require that all treated and transported patients, regardless of residency status, be billed for services rendered, if your agency bills for services.
- This includes billing for both transport and specific non-transport services.
Authority to Bill: Under Ohio Revised Code (ORC) Section 307.05, counties are authorized to provide and charge for emergency medical services.
Key Terms:
- Billable Services: Transport and specific on-site care provided by DCEMS.
- Patient Transport: Movement of a patient from the incident scene to a medical facility.
- Non-Transport Services: Medical care provided on-site without patient transport.
- Non-Billed Patients: Delaware County employees covered by worker’s compensation for work-related injuries.
Billing Practices:
- Information Collection: EMS personnel will collect accurate patient details (e.g., full name, birthdate, and Social Security number, if available) at the time of service whenever possible.
- Rates: DCEMS maintains a fee schedule, reviewed annually by the Delaware County Commissioners, covering Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Life Support (ALS), mileage, and other services. These rates are benchmarked against other EMS agencies in Delaware County and Central Ohio to ensure fairness and competitiveness.
- Insurance Billing: Primary insurance is billed first, followed by secondary insurance, if applicable.
- Self-Pay Patients: Patients without insurance or those who opt out of using insurance will receive at least two billing statements.
- Payment Terms: Payments are due within 30 days, unless a payment plan is arranged.
- Delinquent Accounts: DCEMS does not use aggressive collection practices or send accounts to collections.
- Refunds: Overpayments are refunded within 30 days after all insurance claims are settled.
- Adjustments: Uncollectible accounts will be written off according to county policy after 120 days.
Patient Rights:
- Receive a clear and accurate bill.
- Request an itemized statement.
- Dispute any billing errors.
Patient Responsibilities:
If you receive a bill for services, and it does not appear to have run through your insurance, please call Quick Med Claims to provide accurate insurance and billing information at 888-410-2675.
Non-Billed Patients: Delaware County employees with worker’s compensation coverage for work-related injuries will not be billed.
Accountability and Audits: DCEMS regularly audits billing practices to ensure accuracy and compliance with regulations. Quick Med Claims LLC employs a team of Compliance and Privacy Officers, while DCEMS maintains an on-site Compliance Officer for oversight.
Policy Updates: This policy is reviewed annually to align with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
For questions or assistance with billing, please contact our billing support team 888-410-2675.
Thank you for your cooperation and support of Delaware County EMS.