Maryland Bill May Stop Rescue Choppers from `Balance Billing`
ANNAPOLIS, MD -- As an expectant, first-time mother, Marykate Evans was anxious about the impending birth of her daughter.
When labor pains started six weeks before the expected due date, Ms. Evans went to the hospital near her home in Southern Maryland. Doctors quickly realized the need for her to be in a hospital with specialists to care for her and her baby, once she was delivered.
It was determined that Ms. Evans' condition warranted immediate, rapid transport, and a helicopter was called to fly her to the University of Maryland hospital in Baltimore.
The baby stayed in the neonatal unit at the hospital for two weeks, and is now thriving and growing.
What Ms. Evans, a teacher, said she and her husband never expected was a $5,500 bill from STAT Medevac. It was the balance not covered by her insurance carrier, Care First.
Ms. Evans told Maryland legislators Wednesday that the private helicopter company, which has no contract with the University of Maryland hospital, has not been willing to negotiate or discuss the issue. "They've turned it over to a collection agency, and we know what that does to your credit rating."
The Maryland General Assembly is considering a bill requiring private helicopters operating in the state to accept what the insurance companies pay, and not to send balance bills.
Delegate John Wood, one of the bill sponsors, said the issue is something that everyone should be concerned about. "We know there's no such thing as a free ride. But these helicopter companies should be accepting what the insurance companies are paying."
Ms. Evans said as most patients the cost of the helicopter flight was not on her mind the day it was dispatched. "We had insurance..."
Fran Doherty, vice president for government affairs for Care First, said helicopter companies accept what HMOs and Medicaid pay, but not PPOs.
She told the legislative panels about a resident getting a $5,217 bill for a helicopter trip from Maryland's Eastern Shore to Baltimore, while another person was charged $4,743 to be transferred from Carroll County to Baltimore.
If a Maryland State Police helicopter handles the inter-hospital transfers, no bill is sent to either the insurance company or the patient. The cost is covered by taxpayers.
Ms. Doherty suggested the state's Health Services Cost Review Commission get involved in the issue. She also said Care First is willing to sit down with the private helicopter companies, and once again attempt to reach a compromise. Last year, negotiations ended without a solution.
An attorney representing two private helicopter companies opposes the legislation, saying it would be a bad move for the state.
Bryson F. Popham added that the helicopter service that has a contract with the University of Maryland Hospital, MedStar, may have been tied up on another mission the day that Ms. Evans was transported. STAT, which does not have a contract, made the flight.
He said they are required by federal law to attempt to collect charges from Medicare patients. "To say that air ambulance companies can't balance bills is bad public policy," Popham said.
As he attempted to justify the billing, Senator George Della said: "This lady got the short end of the stick, and she shouldn't have."
