The ambulance billing policy include the following:
The City of St. Charles (nor its business affiliates) will not utilize threatening letters or similar collection tactics to collect payment for services rendered.
The primary focus of all billing messages and telephone contacts will be to secure the insurance information of the patient(s).
As a courtesy to our patients, the City of St. Charles will make every effort to bill and collect payment from the patient's insurance company directly.
The City of St. Charles accepts assignment from the Medicare and the Missouri Medicaid programs.
The City of St. Charles District utilizes an outside collection agency only when efforts to contact the patient for insurance information or after attempts to arrange for a plan of payment have failed.
The City of St. Charles will address cases of financial hardship on an individual basis. This requires patients demonstrate financial hardship by contacting our office and providing the information in a timely manner before their bill is sent to the outside collection agency.
Any patient who contacts our billing office and informs us that they have a financial hardship will be offered a payment plan to meet their individual needs.
All auto liability insurance claims will be billed to the auto insurance company prior to health insurance when information is available.
Other injury liability claims (ie: falls) are billed to the insurance provided and/or the patient. Medical services provided and the accompanying fees are the responsibility of the patient.
As a courtesy to our patients, we will work with any attorney or patient representative if contact is made with our office regarding the incident in a timely manner (before the account is 70 days past due and placed with collections).
According to our privacy practices, we require the patient, or their representative, provide a release of information before we can provide their records to 3rd party.