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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 transporting ambulances available in the market, with float and interfacility resources that can be used if demand requires) and a mix of ALS- and advanced-level BLS staffing. National reported the system had only 12 instances in the reported quarter when no unit was able to respond or there was a prolonged response due to distance.
Both agencies reported cardiac-arrest and bystander-CPR metrics. National reported 38 CPRs performed in the quarter and a sustained survival-to-discharge rate of about 2.02% for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the period; presenters recommended expanded community CPR training and additional public AEDs to improve outcomes.
A major focus of the briefing was ambulance billing: benefits staff and National noted that 131 members had at least one ambulance claim in 2024; roughly 72% of the provider encounters were out-of-network and about 80% of the related charges were out-of-network. That produced approximately $150,000 of additional member liability in 2024 (an average of about $3,000 for affected members), according to Anthem reporting cited by the county’s benefits consultant. National representatives described ongoing contract negotiations with insurers and said that ground ambulance services are generally excluded from the federal No Surprises Act protections used for air ambulance billing; the company urged commissioners and local officials to press state legislators to consider ground-ambulance protections.
National also outlined their standard patient-transport rates and cost structure: sample line items presented included a base BLS transport fee of $3,206.78, an ALS emergency fee of $4,427.50, and a per-mile charge of $47.82. National representatives said they maintain charitable and payment-plan options and that their billing department will work with callers on individual cases.
Commissioners asked for additional data: raw daily ambulance-availability counts, priority-1 response-time percentages (90th-percentile total response time for lights-and-sirens calls), and breakdowns showing how many balance-billed incidents involved county employees or residents who live outside the county. National and county staff said they would provide redacted raw data and follow up on insurer negotiations and the status of in-network contracting.
Ending: National EMS and county staff will supply follow-up data on ambulance availability, priority-1 response-time percentages, redacted balance-billing records and a contact for billing questions; commissioners discussed advocating for state-level protections for ground ambulance balance billing.
