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Emergency Medical Services - Patient Information & FAQs - Billing & Compliance

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1. What type of EMS ambulance service does Williamson County EMS provide?

WCEMS provides Advanced Life Support (ALS), Basic Life Support (BLS), Inter-facility transports as well as treatment with refusal of transport. All care is provided by Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians trained in basic and advanced life support.

2. Will I get a bill if I am transported?

Regardless of what type of medical service or transport is provided by WCEMS, you may get a bill. WCEMS contracts with a third-party billing agency. Every effort is made to seek reimbursement, first, from the patient's insurance carrier. Balances not covered by insurance are billed to the patient.

3. Why does Williamson County EMS charge for ambulance services?

Ambulance fees reduce the tax burden of emergency medical services for Williamson County residents by shifting a portion of the cost to users of the service or their medical insurance carrier. Currently, these fees help recover a portion of the cost of providing EMS.

4. What is the cost of being evaluated, treated and/or transported by EMS?

Cost is based on the type of service provided, either Basic Life Support or Advanced Life Support. There is a cost associated for evaluation without transport.

Fees are approved by the Commissioners Court. A user fee is assessed at the following levels of service:

Williamson County EMS ambulance base rates:

• No transport (NT) base rate - $489.15
• Basic Life Support (BLS) base rate - $1,032.65
• Advanced Life Support (ALS 1) base rate - $1,521.80
• Advanced Life Support (ALS 2) base rate - $1,956.60

Williamson County EMS Supply fees:

• Oxygen - $81.53
• Basic Life Support (BLS) supply fee - $108.70
• Advanced Life Support (ALS) supply fee - $244.58

Williamson County EMS Mileage rate:

• Loaded mileage rate - $19.57 a mile

5. Do my county taxes fund the use of an ambulance?

As a taxpayer in Williamson County, a portion of your tax liability funds the EMS system. The funding provided by the Commissioner's Court pays to have the EMS system ready to respond to an estimated 26,000 emergencies per year. The annual budget provides for 14 ambulances and 1 squad unit 24/7, 3 peak demand ambulances, 3 command/high priority response units, and a large backup fleet. All are staffed by highly trained paramedics and emergency medical technicians under the supervision of a full-time EMS / Emergency physician. By billing those who use the services, the revenue collected helps offset the costs to the taxpayers.

6. Why didn’t the medic tell me that I was going to be charged?

The medic’s role at an emergency scene is to care for the patient, not negotiate medical billing.

7. How do I provide my insurance information?

Medics will make an attempt to collect and enter your insurance information into your medical record on the scene. This information is then provided directly to our billing office. Any missed or additional information may be provided by contacting our billing office at 877-200-9362.

8. Do patients sign a document acknowledging financial balances?

WCEMS attempts to obtain signatures from patients, if it is possible. If the patient is not able to sign, because of their condition, the medic notes this in the medical report. The billing office will then reach out to the patient or patient representative for necessary signatures.

9. How much will my insurance pay?

As a courtesy to the patient, we will file insurance when provided with accurate insurance information within the timely filing limitations set by your plan. Insurance companies pay claims based on the type of coverage each individual policy provides. To determine what your insurance may pay, you must read the contract you have with your insurance company. Medicare will not pay if you are not transported to a hospital. Medicare and Medicaid will not pay if you are transported, and they do not consider the reason for transport to the hospital to be a life or limb-threatening emergency.

10. Why am I getting a bill when my insurance paid?

WCEMS balances bills for non-Medicare, Tricare, VA, Medicaid, and Worker's Compensation insurers. WCEMS does not have contracts with private insurance companies; therefore we do not waive the unpaid portion of the bill. The patient is responsible for any copay, coinsurance, and deductible according to their insurance plan.

11. What assistance can I expect to receive regarding my bill?

Our contracted billing agency is available to provide you with billing statements, file your insurance and assist you with insurance appeals. Every effort is made to work with the patient to assist them with any remaining balance.

12. Do you accept payment plans?

Yes, our billing office will work with you to set up a payment plan that best meets your needs.

13. Who do I contact if I have a question about a bill or to make payment for services provided by WCEMS?

EMS Management and Consultants
P.O. Box 429
Lewisville, NC 27023-0429
WCEMS Customer Service Line: 877-200-9362
7 am to 5 pm CST
Patient Portal page

14. What forms of payment do you accept?

Payments may be made by check, money order, credit cards, health savings, and flexible spending cards.

15. Is there a fee associated when making a credit card payment?

No there is no fee for payments processed by credit card.

16. Does EMS bill the person that caused the accident or injury if it was not your fault?

No, EMS only bills the person that received the services.

17. Do you accept Letters of Protection?

Yes, if the protection states our bill will be paid if and when the settlement is received. The account is put on a 6-month hold pending the outcome of the litigation. Acceptance of a letter of protection is not automatic acceptance of reduced settlement payment.

18. What is the average bill for a transport?

The average bill for an ambulance transport is approximately $1,450. Many insurance plans cover a portion of the cost, depending on the patient's insurance plan documents. Most of the bill comes from the ambulance transport base rate. The remainder consists of mileage and supplies.

19. Who approves the rates for ambulance service/transports?

Ambulance service/transport rates are approved by Williamson County Commissioner’s Court.