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rina. WELD COUNTY AMBULANCE SERVICE
1121 M STREET
I
IGREELEY, COLORADO 80631
WEBSITE: www.co.weld.co us•C. PHONE (970) 353-5700, EXT. 3200
WI PFAX: (970)304-6408
COLORADO
August 1, 2000
William B. Anthony
810 Stone Mountain Drive, #102
Windsor, CO 80550
RE: Weld County Ambulance Service Rates
Dear Mr. Anthony:
Your letter of July 22 to the Weld County Commissioners was referred to me by the
Board. Hopefully, I can answer the questions and concerns you posed.
First of all, I am sorry to hear that you fell and suffered an injury. My hope is that you
have had a speedy and complete recovery.
Now for the answers. Weld County Ambulance Service is a non-profit, enterprise fund.
That means, although we are a department of Weld County Government, we receive no
tax money and must charge what it costs to provide our services.
The cost to provide emergency ambulance service 24 hours per day, 365 days per year
is not inexpensive. Most of it is personnel costs. Emergency Medical Services requires
highly trained, experienced Paramedics who are capable of making rapid decisions and
performing complex skills. Dispatchers, supervisors, physician advisors, support
technicians (plus their education and training) substantially adds to this personnel cost.
Ambulances, fuel, maintenance, communications, technical diagnostic and treatment
equipment, medications, medical supplies, etc. all add to the expense of providing
care.
Please do call the other ambulance services providing the same or equal services to
compare charges. Poudre Valley Medical Center, Thompson Valley EMS, Tri-Area
Ambulance Service, Platte Valley Medical Center, and American Medical Response will
likely share their fees with you. I have made comparisons myself, but encourage you to
do your own.
( i;,�:;.! (( )i(1Jk 2000-1988
Lastly, Medicare has a poor record of inadequately paying for ambulance services.
Senate Bill 2858 (now pending in the Senate Finance Committee) was written to
address the issues you have posed. It focuses on the approximate 50% reimbursement
shortfall that Medicare has created. Please write to your Senators and Congressmen
and tell them your story.
I hope I have answered all of your questions. If I may be of further service, please call
me at 353-5700, extension 3204. Thank you.
Si cerely,
rary M. M abe, Director
CORRESPOND ENE E RESPONSE
//DEPARTMENT OF C,L'-') rd l'-CC la.y ZCS?_
* * * PLEASE RESPOND WITHIN THREE DAYS.* * *
IF RESPONSE WILL BE DELAYED,
PLEASE NOTIFY "CTB GROUP" BY E-MAIL
OF EXPECTED DATE FOR RESPONSE.
T.R][eflOMM.1\TD RR ACTION
Narrative:
M ri'Tv:L IOD 07 RESPONSE',
- Board Action
/Work Session
_✓ Letter (Attached)
- Telephone Call
- No Response (explain) ��
/ 1
Depai ment Head Signature
GB DH GV BK MG
E3OARD ACTION: (Initial by Approval)
Agree with Recommendation
VVorksession _—
William B.Anthony
810 Stone Mountain Dr.#102
Windsor, Colorado 80550
July 22, 2001
Dear County Commissioners:
Since I was told your are the responsible parties for Weld County Ambulance
Rates, I have concluded I must make you aware of the following situation.
In September of 1999 I was the victim of a fall in my basement at #6 Rose LLt.
in Windsor, and dislocated a shoulder. My wife dialed 911 and asked for an
ambulance. Attached is a copy of the original bill I received from Weld Cc .
Ambulance. The attendent that gave me the medication took copies of my
medicare card and my medicare supplement card, however I can understand try
WCAS refused to take an assignment for the charges since this is a classi..
example of an overcharge. I practiced for several years as an LPN, I have some
knowledge of what is normal charges. The compazine pill for which I was
charged 15.00 costs .35 at the drug store. Several hours of 02 costs abort
thirty five dollars and I was charged $45.00 for fifteen to twenty minutes .
After the $495.00 for the emergency call, I was charged $10.00 a mile to take
me to the hospital.
When I called to talk to accounting personnel, I was told I was responsible
for the entire bill and told in very clipped tones I would pay the entire
amount.. I told the person I did not have the money to pay more than medicare
or my insurance carrier would pay and I was very promptly told that I was
responsible for the entire amount. A case was filed against me by a colLecti: ::
agency and I was duly summoned for amount due for $470.14. Since I had no
money to retain an attorney or money to file an answer to the summons, L
borrowed money from my son to pay the amount due and now I have to sell nn
pickup to repay the loan.
Now that my cancer is in remission (which has nothing to do with this bi_- )
have the strength to take action on this matter. If the Weld County
Commissioners do not wish to consider this a valid claim against the comrnsi'a
for $477.14, then I may have to wait until I can afford an attorney. 0therwi::
this is what I intend to do:
I will survey the counties in the surrounding area to see if comparable
charges are being made by those counties. If they do make comparable changes..
I am going to write letters to every member of congress, senate, state
legislature, and state senate to see what can be done to correct the
situation. If they do not make comparable charges, then I will have what
need to go to court when I can retain an attorney to rectify the sj\tuati_:n.
/,.
spec,tfail /. 7 i
illiam B. Antho i C/ •
Weld County Ambulance Service
1121 M Street
Greeley, CO 80631
(970) 353-5700 Ext . 3201
TAX. ID 4 84-6000813
Please send payment to: Weld County Ambulance Service
ALLn: Accounting Department
P.O. Rox 738
Greeley, CO 80632
Patient Statement As Of October 28 , 1999
WILLIAM ANTHONY Re :WILLIAM ANTHONY
6 ROSE CT Patient ID:466405100
Phone : (970) 686-7448
WINDSOR, CO 80550
:urrent Insurance Information
MEDICARF PART R Policy:466465100A (Tro. p : ONF.
Date invoice From Destination Charges Finance
09/26/1999 990907114A 6 ROSE Ca WINDSOR->NORTH CO MED CENT 846 _ '74 815 74
(AC362 ) BLS AMBULANCE SERVICE (EMERGENCY) Qty: 1 $ 195 . 00
(AC380 ) BLS SINGLE PATIENT MILEAGE Qty: 15 $ 150 . 00
(A0422 ) OXYGEN Qty: 1 $ 45 . 00
9 041 1 CARDIAC MONITOR MEDICARE Qty: 1 $ 5 . 74
(A0391 ) 1V/TO SET UP Qty: I $ 60 . 00
(36180 ) MEDICATION - COMPAZTNE Qty: 1 $ 15 . 00
(J2275 , MEDICATION - MORPHINE SULFATE QI.y : 5 $ 75 - 00
MRLICARE PART R Submitted on 10/05/1999 For $845 . 74
.. '1'h., Above Invoice Ts Now Billable to The Patient : 845 .74 Due . c <
1 invoice (s) Totalinq : $845 . 74 Your Current Responsibility is : $845 . '74
New Chys Ret/WO/Adj Current_ 30 Day 60 Day 90 Day 120+Days
:',45 . 74 0 . 00 0 . 00 845 . 74 0 . 00 0 . 00 i . 00
> . H , Please Pay This Amount : 845 . 74 « c c
IF WE KNEW YOUR INSURANCE, WE HAVE BILLED IT. _
IF YOU HAVE INSURANCE, MEDICARE, OR MEDICAID PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE S: THAT
WE CAN RILL THAT FOR YOU FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE .
A 1 . 5% per month (18% per year) interest charge will be assessed on any amount
over 60 days old.
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