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National EMS presents semiannual data; commissioners and staff flag balance-billing exposure and access issues
Summary
National EMS and Athens-Clarke County Fire presented semiannual response data, showing generally acceptable response times and system saturation figures while highlighting an emerging balance-billing problem: many ambulance providers are out-of-network for insurers and affected members faced roughly $150,000 in out-of-pocket liability in 2024.
Representatives from National EMS and Athens-Clarke County Fire presented semiannual operational data on April 8, describing system resources, response times, bystander CPR rates and a growing problem of out-of-network ambulance billing that results in balance bills to patients.
Fire Battalion Chief Jonathan Pee (support services) summarized fire-department units and response metrics. Fire staff reported an average total response time of about 5 minutes, 8 seconds and a 90th-percentile total response time of about 8 minutes, 27 seconds in the quarter reviewed. Fire staff noted that units can be committed on other incidents and that apparatus commitment (number of units occupied) affects EMS availability.
National EMS operations staff described their fleet and deployment: two quick-response vehicles (QRVs), multiple ambulances across several stations (11…
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