SERVICE FEES

There are many laws, regulations, and insurer practices that affect ambulance fees. Bennington Rescue has little control over the amount and speed with which many insurers compensate us for providing services.

In the graph at the bottom of the page is an example of all our common fees. This includes what a standard Medicare plan will pay for transport (they do not cover non-transport situations), and the difference - what Bennington Rescue is not allowed to collect.

AMOUNT BILLED

This is the billed cost of the service - we bill for the cost of preparedness, response, care, transport, and returning to service.

CONTRACTUAL ALLOWANCE

The difference between the billed cost of the service and what the insurer agrees to pay either through their own fee structure (Medicare plans, Medicaid) or contract (commercial insurances)..

AMOUNT TO BE PAID

This is the amount the insurer and the insured (patient) will pay. How much the patient is reponsible for depends on the insurance, patient deductible & copay requirements, etc.

Our ambulance service fees & a comparison to Medicare amounts

The column with “OUR FEE” in the graph below has our July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026 ambulance service fees. We update fees annually with our budget (Jul - Jun fiscal year). This adjustment takes the Consumer Price Index plus our agency, national, and regional cost data into consideration.

*These are Medicare fees for a subscriber through standard Medicare for our region of the nation. The payment amounts can vary down or up depending on the type of Medicare plan.

FAQ: Can’t you just bill more, won’t the insurer have to pay more?

A: No, government insurers like Medicare and Medicaid only pay their set rates, regardless of the amount billed. It will make the difference go up a lot but won’t change the amount we receive. It would affect those that are still uninsured or under-insured who do not have ambulance coverage and pay out of pocket. We negotiate with large commercial insurers on a regular basis.

FAQ: What do all these codes and descriptions mean?

A: Each code and description defines a service provided to a patient.

  • Mileage are patient-loaded miles. Not only does Medicare pay less, after 18 miles the rate goes down to $9.24

  • ALS is advanced life support, assessment or care provided at the Advanced EMT or Paramedic level (IV lines, medications, advanced airways, etc.)

  • BLS is basic life support, assessment and care provided at the EMT level

  • Specialty Care Transport (SCT) is provided by Critical Care Paramedics when certain medication, procedures, or equipment like a ventilator are needed.

  • Paramedic Intercept is when an EMT or AEMT ambulance from another agency requires the knowledge, skills, and abilities of a paramedic to assess and care for a patient. This service is not covered by Medicare.

  • No Transport is when EMS is requested for assistance through 9-1-1 or calling the Bennington Police Communications Center but the patient / parent / guardian refuses transport after evaluation and/or care. This service is not covered by Medicare and is a patient responsibility - see the next section.

NO TRANSPORT BILLING

If Bennington Rescue responds to a request for ambulance response and provides service to a patient, we bill the patient the BLS Emergency Fee listed in the fee schedule above. Service is any assessment and/or care indicated by the patient’s condition including lifting assistance.

FAQ: What if I didn’t call the ambulance, do I need to pay the fee?

A: Possibly, we have a protocol to follow to determine if a patient is responsible for the fee. Please review the No Transport Waiver Protocol and Hardship Waiver then contact our office at billing@brsvt.org.