How do rural EMS agencies handle billing for service?

Question

We are a local volunteer EMS agency with the dilemma of increased call cost and decrease in volunteers. How are rural agencies intitiating billing for service?

Answer 1

I have been in EMS for 27 years and also a Fire Chief. The days of volunteer are coming to a close before long. Recruitment and retainment are getting to be a big problem.People have to work to get by, and Volunteering doesn't cut it. Think about this: At MVA's, the Police Officer gets paid, the tow truck driver gets paid, the D.O.T guys get paid, the receiving hospital who just gave you orders gets paid! Ok, so why volunteer,are they?No! The excuses of we help because we care, well who cares about the Vols?? If people want services they have to pay, that's all.

Answer 2

Check with nearby stations that have done the same and ask how they started and if they can give any advice. Our station has the same problem, but because we're fairly busy and most of the rest of the county is as well, we are actually one of the last stations to start billing, so it wasn't a big shock to the community. Good luck!