GARRETT BILL REQUIRES MORE OVERSIGHT ON
AMBULANCE SERVICES

HIGHWOOD, Illinois – In an effort to protect consumers from confusing practices involving ambulance services, State Senator Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest) sponsored a bill to regulate how ambulances are used to transport patients from hospitals and other health care facilities. The bill, Senate Bill 2170, was signed by the Governor this week.

SB2170 provides that, when a hospital calls for an ambulance to transport a patient, a statement certifying the medical necessity of the ambulance transportation must be signed by a physician. Nursing homes must keep a record of who called for the ambulance and why. If insurance will not cover the charges, the ambulance company must provide a written statement in large type to the patient explaining how much the transportation will cost.

Garrett became aware of questionable practices in ambulance services when constituents told of having been transported by ambulance from a hospital to another facility and then receiving an unexpected bill for the service, sometimes $500 or more. They were not told in advance whether the ambulance transportation was medically necessary, or that their insurance would not cover it if it was not deemed necessary. Some ambulance companies were using contracts in small print that did not spell out who was responsible for the cost of the transportation and what the terms of payment would be.

“These practices are unreasonable in dealing with people who are elderly and ill. We needed a law to protect people from unfair practices at a time when they are most vulnerable,” said Garrett. “Our goal was to provide oversight and make sure that all costs were disclosed to the patient and family up front.”

The new law takes effect January 31, 2007.