No Fee For Ambulance

[JGallagher]

Come April I do belive, the NB Goverment will no longer charge people for using a Ambulance. Though people using it as a taxi for non-emerengcy use will be billed.


What are your thoughts?

[Michael13]

Ontario still does it for non emergency 'code 4' calls. And i think they need to increase the rate. Too many people, mostly seniors are using the ambulances as taxi's. It is in the news all the time that there are buget short falls, so why not increase the rate?? A little extra revenue. But I guess the people using it as a taxi dont have a any other way to get to a hospitol. But there are the odd ones that everyday get picked up. My retired uncle says they used to pick up one man everyday, and he woudl use it just to get coffee. Hospitol was way closer to coffee shop that his rural home.

[hrecruit]

I'am told that in Newfoundland you are charged 140.00 for each call regardless if you go with then or not. if they show up to your place your dinged...

[FFWannabe]

I know in Ottawa there is a charge if the situation is not deemed an emergency, unless you are on social assistance. Now, i don't want to start an arguement about social assistance, because I do believe if the system is used as it is supposed to be, it can be helpful, but... why does being on social assistance make a headache an emergency? The ambulance then becomes, as you say, a taxi. I find that a tough one to swallow.
I had a conversation the other day regarding wait times in the hospitals for EMT's. They are left standing around, waiting because their bed is in use. The hospital staff knows the patient is taken care of if they are in an EMT's bed, and of course the headaches or other none emergencies take the longest to be seen.
I think when the city announces that we were without an available ambulance for just over 2 minutes during the cold snap and then news filters out that we are without an available ambulance more times then we would care to know about, that something more needs to be done to free up our emergency workers so they can do their job and not babysit someone who didn't want to take a cab or call a friend.

I think the price should go up to an amount that presents a deterrent to most and also those on social assistance should have to apply to have it covered, and only if it's an emergency.

I have a huge social conscience and believe that everyone be given equal access to what is rightfully available to them, but I don't think it's right when others take away what is needed because of what they want.

Anyway... politics.. sheesh.... I love this city, but sometimes I am gravely disappointed with where it chooses to spend it's money and how it think we want to be represented... it's nice that we have culture, theatres, museums, festivals, etc... but wouldn't it be nicer to know you're safe?

Sue:confused:

[hrecruit]

couple years back a province in the maritimes. Social services had to pay a bill of 26,000 dollars for one year EMS services for a lady in the city who was very badly abusing the system. from what I heard most of the time they would just pull up and honk the horn and she would just walk out and hop in. Crazy stuff.

[FFWannabe]

That IS crazy! What's even crazier is that she knows they have an obligation to arrive and the province has an obligation to pay for it... I just think that's wrong. I just hate seeing things abused this badly and then the city/province wonders why we get outraged when they tell us there's no more money!!! :mad: Keep the big dogs happy while the people who need it are suffering....

Sue :confused:

[hrecruit]

It is crazy but really no big shots care what me or you think it's just a process that goes round and round. ;)

[FFWannabe]

Originally posted by hrecruit
It is crazy but really no big shots care what me or you think it's just a process that goes round and round. ;)

Yup! Sad isn't it... I just posted in another thread that letter writing is never a bad thing, the MPs are elected for a reason! I have to wonder, does information not get out to the public for any specific reason, or is it just not newsworthy to hear that a heart attack victim could die because of the extra minutes it will take an ambulance to get to him, when the one closest is sitting in hospital with a sore back/headache sufferer ?

Sigh... good ol' politics... our tax paying dollars at work for us!!! Sheesh, whatever! ;)

Sue :eek:

[bcfire]

Costs big bucks on PEI for the bus, I don't think anybody here abuses it! No taxis in rural areas either.

[JGallagher]

Well, I would walk to the hospital if I could before taking a Ambulance. The reason for that is because I cant afford it.

[iamvff]

The funny part to this is that I used to sit on the ambulance board here a few years ago, and all of the accounts that didn't pay by the end of the year...the board would just write them off as uncollectable. There was quite a few of the same names over a few year period. Why not take the ambulance if they don't give a crap if you pay or not!]

Be safe
iamvff

[colin911]

I think in Peel Region, an ambulance ride is around the $45 mark. You are not charged if you refuse transport. There are quite a few times that we go on medical calls and it turns out that the patient just needs a good burp (no kidding) and in the driveway there is 5 or 6 cars. The argument here is that if you increase the ambulance fee to something astronomical, you will get fewer bull$*^& calls. I tend to disagree ... people are still going to call if they think they are having a medical emergency. However, if someone who is like JG and can't afford the $200 ambulance fee, they will sit at home having a heart attack or go into further respiratory distress because they simply can't afford it. What has to be done is to better educate the public when and when not to call 911. People think that if they call 911 and go to the hospital by ambulance, they will be seen by the doctor faster. Not true as we have all been reading lately. In the end, I think it's better to have an affordable system then to have one that deters people from calling 911 in a real emergency.

[dentedhead]

The usual fee for an ambulance ride in Ontario for the pt.is as Colin911 stated $45.essential,$160.non essential most insurance or benifit plans will pay this if essential.

I would never begrudge anyone a ride but it is very disheartening to actually witness the abuse first hand Not just by those on assistance but people who should know better,they are the same ones who will meet you at the door bags packed and ready for admission,before they have even seen a Dr.

We could code 14(other transportation suitable) someone til the cows came home but the ER doc would forget to sign and the tab is picked up by welfare, a non essential bill would be deducted directly from their cheque.Lots of the pts on assistance thats the first thing out of their mouth,"make sure the bill goes to family benifits".

If I had a nickel for everytime I heard "I was going to take a cab but I got no money" or the HBD pt outside of bar "I was just standing there and he punched me" I would be a rich man.

Dentedhead

[JGallagher]

With the new system I belive that real emergency calls will not cost any thing.

[911Caddy]

Here in B.C. it's $ 54.00 if we take you (up to 45 km or so)and $50.00 if we don't. That's the basic's.. There are many other variables. ie. WCB, AirAmbulance, Out of province persons etc..

[tconley]

I had to call a Ambulance for my son, we live in Ontario and it cost us $45.00. Although my benifit plan covered 90% of this. I think this is quite reasonable for the level of service that is provided. We also have patient transfer buses all over our city, that act as taxis. Commendations to the paramedics, they did a great job, and the young lad is doing great.