(a) No person requiring EMS shall be denied services due to a lack of insurance or ability to pay.
(b) Any applicable charges for EMS transport rendered shall be billed directly to the patient and/or to the patient's third party payer.
(c) All patients and/or their financially responsible parties, insurers or carriers, will be billed for EMS transport provided by the system according to the Fee Schedule established herein, and shall be responsible for any co-payment or deductible amounts not satisfied by public or private insurance. The third party billing agency shall make reasonable collection efforts for all such balances according to the most current rules or regulations set forth in applicable sections of the Medicare Carriers Manual and may seek reimbursement from any applicable coinsurance carriers for such amounts.
(d) Any patient not billed on assignment by the County's billing agent and who receives payment directly from a third party payer for ambulance transport rendered by the system is obligated to remit such monies to the County in the event the system has not been paid for services rendered.
(e) All County employees and members of Volunteer Fire and Rescue Companies authorized by the Board of Supervisors will not be billed for EMS transports or services rendered that result from a line-of-duty injury or illness.
(Ord. 14-02. Passed 1-15-14.)