Ambulance Service May Change Billing Practices

Huntsville, TN (2011-03-07) Scott County is considering outsourcing it’s Ambulance Service billing, a move that, according to the company, would increase revenues and not cost any jobs.

Recently, Jim Reed, Director of the Scott County Ambulance Service, and Scott County Mayor Jeff Tibbals met with National Reimbursement Group (NRG), a Macon, GA based company that specializes in billing for ambulance services. The company, which has contracts with other East Tennessee counties, including Anderson and Roane, has been courting the county for the last few months, hoping to ink a deal locally.

According to Mayor Tibbals, NRG claims it can increase collections for the ambulance service by an average of 15 percent. Even after paying the company’s 6 percent commission, the county could be money ahead. “(It) could mean a net increase in revenue of over $300,000,” commented Tibbals. Of concern to the County was the loss of jobs by eliminating the county-operated billing division, which currently employees three people. Acting on a suggestion by the Mayor, NRG, stated Tibbals, had agreed to develop a local data center in Huntsville, which would employee the county’s current three employees. “No one is going to be put out in the street,” Tibbals emphasized. In addition, NRG would pay the county $150 per employee per month to rent office space in the County Office Building. If NRG’s continue to expand its East Tennessee operations, additional employees may be hired to staff the local center. “We’re still in the discussion phase,” Tibbals said.

Under the NRG system, paramedics call-in all patient information to a data center clearinghouse, a call that can be placed at the end of each run, rather than entering information at the end of each shift. The procedure would negate the need for notebook computers in the trucks themselves, something that had been discussed at the previous Commission meeting. Paramedics would then be able to review the information entered by NRG, before validating the run ticket. Once validated, a patient’s information cannot be accessed, except by the Director.

The Committee will continue to explore the options offered.