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Bedford approves ambulance billing change; town budget to absorb roughly $30,000 reduction
Summary
The town authorized an agreement allowing the Katona Bedford Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corp to bill higher advanced-life-service rates and retain reimbursements; the chair said the change will reduce town revenue by about $30,000 this year and staff will adjust the budget.
The Town of Bedford board on May 20 approved an agreement letting the Katona Bedford Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corp (KBHVAC) bill insurers and Medicaid for advanced life-saving services when the fly-car paramedic is on a call and to retain those reimbursements. The measure is subject to town-attorney review and approval.
The Chair explained the arrangement has existed in various forms and that historically the ambulance corps shared a portion of higher reimbursements with the town. Under the approved agreement KBHVAC will keep the revenue it obtains from the higher advanced-life-service billing. "So it would be less for the town. So this proposes that they bill for it and whatever they get for the billing for their efforts of getting the reimbursement, they keep all the money," the Chair said. He estimated the change would create "about a $30,000 hole in our budget from what we've been getting over the years." The board moved, seconded and approved the agreement with no recorded opposition.
Officials said KBHVAC provides advanced services and billing is administratively burdensome for the volunteer organization; the change is intended to enable KBHVAC to pursue reimbursements while the town adjusts its budget.
