Does the EMS system pay for ambulance services?

The EMS system, especially the ambulance service function, relies heavily on reimbursements from third party payers and currently ambulance services must provide patient transportation in order to be reimbursed for services.

What is the 2025 ambulance fee schedule public use file?

These files contain the Medicare allowed amounts for the various levels of ambulance service and mileage. The file is organized by state, and by payment locality within each state. The 2025 Ambulance Fee Schedule Public Use File can be viewed by clicking here.

What is the Medicare ambulance fee schedule?

This paper was instrumental in developing the Medicare Ambulance Fee Schedule, adopted in 2002. The fee schedule was intended to standardize the methodology to pay all ambulance providers a predetermined fee for transportation services based on the relative cost of each level of service.

How much does an EMS call cost?

If the cost for transport, providers, and opportunity cost by taking extra units out of service to respond to the call is added in, the call total is easily above 1000 dollars in expenses - for which the EMS service will receive only 975 dollars for.

What are EMS costs?

According to the Institutes of Medicine, “EMS costs include the direct costs of each emergency response, as well as the readiness costs associated with maintaining the capability to respond quickly, 24-hours a day, 7-days a week.”

How are ambulance services funded?

Ambulance services are a critical component of an EMS System and the health care safety net which have historically been primarily funded by user fees. In certain locations, local tax subsidies have also been used to offset costs for all EMS System components.