Frequently Asked Questions:

If you have a question that was not answered on this site about billing or Medicare/Medicaid please feel free to email ccemsballen@yahoo.com and she will get back to you as soon as possible. 

Why did insurance not pay?     Most of the time when a call is received about insurance not paying is because insurance was not obtained or available during contact with the patient.  ie., they forgot their cards or numbers or policy information - We are showing no insurance in this instance.   Contact the office for proper documentation.  

Are you part of the hospital?     No. We are a separate organization from Cleveland Regional Medical Center.

MEDICARE/ MEDICAID

Why did Medicare only pay for part of my transports?   Medicare has a tendency to overlook a double trip.  For example if there was a transport from home to doctor and then from that doctor back to home, Medicare usually overlooks the second trip thinking it was a double billing.  It is corrected easily in the billing office and requires a medical necessity form or a letter from the doctor on letter head documenting that an ambulance was medically necessary.

What are the reasons why Medicare/Medicaid wont pay my bill?  Most likely payment for ambulance service will be denied for the following reasons:

            Does not usually pay for transports to another hospital for physician preference.

Does not usually pay for transports to or from physicians office.

Does not usually pay for transports from nursing home to nursing home.

Does not usually pay for transports from home to nursing home.

Does not usually pay for transports for maintenance of oxygen only.

Does not usually pay for transports unless a stretcher and ambulance were absolutely necessary.

All other coverage (insurance) Medicare will be processed before Medicaid. Medicaid will only approve payment if patient could only go by stretcher or that any other means of transport other than ambulance would be detrimental to the patients welfare.

The nursing facility who called the ambulance for transport is ultimately responsible for the bill.  If Medicaid (of any type) or any other coverage wont pay, the bill needs to be directed to the nursing facility.

Medicaid will not usually pay for transport to L/D with labor pains, unless crowning is present.

No out of state Medicaid will be accepted by Cleveland County EMS.