MK Rav Yisrael Eichler wants the state to pick up the bill for an emergency ambulance transport in “life and death cases” even if the patient is not admitted. Eichler explains that what often occurs is that a person experiences shortness of breath of feels s/he may be having a stroke and calls an ambulance. The person is released from the emergency room and is then presented with a 800 NIS bill from Magen David Adom for the transport.
Eichler feels the cost of the ambulance is a deterrent for many people on fixed incomes and they may hesitate calling for an ambulance when they should, especially if they were sent home from an emergency room previously following the same symptoms.
Eichler adds that often children and adults are transported following a fall for fear of a fracture. Their visit ends in the emergency room after they are released and they are then left with the ambulance bill, which is not paid by their kupat cholim (HMO). The MK feels that even if one is not admitted to a hospital, an injury of acute medical condition may be “pikuach nefesh” and they should not have to hesitate to pick up the phone and call for an ambulance.
He points out that in addition, even if one is admitted to the hospital one will not be reimbursed if one arrived in the emergency room with a vehicle other than an MDA ambulance. That includes a taxi or any private ambulance service.
The MK feels that if the EMS team makes the determination that the patient must be transported, then the state should pick up the bill.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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10 Responses
He’s right. There are so many poor families that in the gravest of cases would think twice when something happens to a loved one if to send them in an ambulance or not. I was at the park recently and a kid fell and had blood gushing from his head. I called magen david and they came and the kid started feeling better. And instead of the MD paramedics telling her how important it is to check out a hit on the head; they feel bad convincing anyone cus they know it costs the patient. So they just stood at the side. I thought to myself: If I’d have money I would offer this lady to pay for it since I was so scared for this childs life. Ended up being she said she’s calling her husband and they’ll decide what to do. And the ambulance went away. It keeps on happening.
we will need more taxes and sherut leumi
Terrific idea – which means it probably wont happen.
I personally know people (especially the elderly) who either dont go to the hospital at all, or take a BUS(!) because they cant afford an ambulance and the risk of being stuck with the bill. Even a cab is beyond the reach of some here in Israel.
What a stupid insurance system. If you go to the doctor, do they also not pay unless there was something wrong?
It’s not necessarily stupid. I think it’s like this in most US insurance companies. An ambulance is only covered for emergencies. If you take an ambulance to the hospital for a non-emergency then why should the state pay?
He mentions stroke or difficulty breathing, in those cases, the patient will be admitted to the hospital.
Healthcare costs money and where will that money come from? Taxes. The “horrible” taxpaying Helonim constituency
Rebbe Yid says:
January 19, 2014 at 4:07 pm
What a stupid insurance system. If you go to the doctor, do they also not pay unless there was something wrong?
not at all go by car, taxi, bus or whatever not an ambulance the state does not have unlimited money
an ambulance is for emergency. remember if you use an ambulance for non emergency there is one less for a real emergency
geula says:
January 19, 2014 at 2:59 pm
they still can go by bus car taxi whatever if they do not take the child they are negligent
The ambulance crew is not allowed to recommend not transporting for fear of lawsuits, only once they solve that problem will crews start telling people they can really take a taxi because their injury is no direct danger.
MK Eichlers’ suggestion is very nice but it ignores the fact that there are many fakers every day and by them claiming chestpains he wants others to pick up their tab, the current system takes into account what was found in the hospital and whether or not the patient was admitted which is probably the only way to efficiently flush out the fakers and hit them with a bill where it belongs.
#1 I wasn’t there so I can’t judge the particulars of the case BUT bleeding head wounds almost always look worse then they are.
Should the parent have gone to the ER and have their kid checked up? probably, though she could also observe the kid for an hour or two and only then decide.
Should the kid be transported in an ambulance? most likely not, put a bandage on to stop the bleeding and take whatever form of transportation you prefer.
Same goes for a fracture, we recently had a kid in our neighborhood who broke his leg, he was probably entitled to free transport through one of his family members but the family understanding that this was not something that absolutely needed ambulance transport elected to take him in their own car and not unnecessarily take an ambulance out of service.
In Israel as things stand people take ambulance a lot more then in other countries due to the much lower costs associated with it, about $100-$200 during the day whereas a non-emergency ambulance ride in the US/EU will easily cost you $2000 – a lady in labor is considered non-emergency!
working in the ER for the last 19 years in NY, I can tell you that the overwhelming majority of people who use the system do not need to use an ambulance. One rather “amusing” story was the fellow who called 911 for “chest pains” and had the ambulance drive him about 8 miles to the hospital that I work at, bypassing at least 3 or 4 closer ones (you can thank Giuliani for that one). When he got to the hospital, he got out the stretcher and told the EMS crew – thanks, I will walk the last 2 blocks – free transportation. Yes, unfortunately there is much abuse in the system which is probably the main reason why costs are so high.