Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:09/08/2023

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  The ambulance showed up at my house. I told them to leave before they even walked up the driveway. I told them to leaving and they would not leave I told them I do not need your service. They continued to stay even though I demanded they leave “ok but we must take your pulse before we go”. I let them touch my arm. Then they demanded I sign some pad. Now a bill shows up at the house. I told before they walked up the driveway I’m not paying this bill and please leave.

  Business Response

  Date: 10/02/2023

  To whom it may concern,  Union Volunteer Emergency Squad, Inc. (UVES) provides 9-1-1 Emergency Medical Services under  contract with and for the Town of Union. Included in this contract, and as authorized within, are various  charges to be levied for services provided.   Charges that are included in the contract address the ever-increasing activation of 9-1-1 for pre-hospital  emergency medical services where prompt evaluation and/or treatment of an emergency medical  condition is requested, yet transportation to an emergency room is refused. The provision of these  services comes with significant expense to ensure the community receives a prompt and highly qualified  response from pre-hospital emergency medical service providers. Unfortunately, due to rapid and  continued changes in reimbursements to healthcare providers; inclusive of emergency medical services;  the ability to provide services that UVES historically provided free of charge (refusal of transport); and  Mr. “***********” may have come to expect; can no longer be continued.   In reviewing charges for the service that was provided on August 26, 2023, we note that Mr.  “***********” primary and supplemental insurances were not provided on the date of service. Verbal  interactions between Mr. “***********” and a UVES Shift Supervisor, UVES Billing staff and the  Director of the Billing Department occurred on 08/28 and 08/31. The amount that was invoiced for the  service provided was for an ambulance response and basic life support treatment/assessment without  transport of $698.78. Mr. “***********” was informed of the Fee and Fee standards verbally as the  invoice had not yet been mailed to him. After Mr. “***********” expressed his disapproval to the Billing  Office Director, she offered to reconsider the Standard BLS Treatment/assessment and no-transport fee  down to our Public Assist Fee of $268.75, as a one-time courtesy.   In your letter, Mr. “***********” requested UVES consider refunding the charges for the services Mr.  “***********” received. In reviewing the case with our billing office, we have learned that Mr.  “***********”, despite receiving assessments and treatments for his condition at the time 9-1-1 was  activated, received an offer to have the charge reduced. At the time, Mr. “***********” refused the offer  for a reduced rate and to date has not responded to subsequent statements that have been provided nor has  he provided payment for the service to date. Please note that we are aware that Medicare will not cover  the public assistance charge as the Medicare benefit is only payable for transportation to an emergency  room. Due to numerous opinions rendered from both the State of New York and the Federal Office of Inspector  General; unless applied under an indigent care policy; UVES cannot waive the charges that have  otherwise been applied. Waiving or discounting payments; whether personal responsibilities after  insurance or full charges where un-insured; would require UVES to apply the same for all patients and  insurance programs. Individually applying waivers or discounts outside of an indigent care policy, based  on the opinions, could constitute insurance or Medicare fraud.   Recognizing declining household incomes within our communities, UVES has recently enhanced our  financial assistance policy to provide relief for patients who may not have the means to pay for services  after insurance has been billed.   The enhanced policy has been developed to address conditions that; based on your letter; may be  impacting Mr. “***********”. The financial assistance policy meets the requirements for an indigent  care policy and allows for waivers or discounts on a sliding scale for balances remaining after insurance  processing. This sliding scale is based on household incomes up to 250% of the federal poverty  guidelines. Unlike hospital systems or other healthcare programs, UVES does not have access to indigent  care funds from the State of New York or other Federal sources. Thus, the application of financial  assistance by UVES becomes a charge off, adding to conditions that continue to reduce revenues and  generated the need for new service charges that Mr. “***********” has incurred.   If Mr. “***********” would like to be considered for financial assistance, please have him contact our  billing office at ************ to request an application. Sincerely,  James P. M***** Deputy Director Operations -Corporate Compliance