Adapting to Change: Key Trends and Challenges for Private Ambulance Services

Following trends highlight the evolving landscape of private ambulance services, focusing on regulatory changes, operational efficiencies, and adapting to new healthcare models.

Key Trends and Challenges

1. Greater Legislative Activity at the State Level: States are expected to introduce legislation to protect consumers from surprise medical billing in ground ambulance services. For example, a state might pass a law prohibiting balance billing, where patients are charged the difference between what the ambulance service charges and what insurance pays.
2. Supply Chain Issues Start to Ease Up: The easing up of supply chain disruptions could lower operational costs for ambulance services. For instance, an ambulance company might find it easier and cheaper to procure medical supplies or vehicle parts than in previous years.
3. Maximizing Productivity by Automation: Implementing automation to enhance efficiency. For example, an ambulance service might use automated software for dispatching and managing patient records, reducing the need for manual input and minimizing errors.
4. Increasing Use of Non-Ambulance Transportation Resources: More EMS systems are using alternative transportation methods. An example is an EMS provider partnering with a non-emergency medical transportation service to handle non-critical patient transport, freeing up ambulances for emergencies.
5. EMS in Survival Mode, Spawning Innovation: Financial challenges are pushing EMS to innovate. For example, an EMS provider might start using nurse triage lines to assess whether a patient needs an ambulance or can be assisted through telemedicine.
6. Year of Growth for EMS: Focusing on retaining employees by improving wages and benefits. An ambulance service might introduce earn-while-you-learn programs, attracting new employees and enhancing retention.
7. Focus on Workforce Engagement and Employee Retention: EMS agencies might concentrate on understanding what keeps their workforce engaged. For instance, implementing a mentorship program where experienced paramedics support new recruits, enhancing job satisfaction and retention.
8. Moving Towards a Model that Delivers the Right Care to Every Patient: Shift towards personalized care plans. An example is an ambulance service using a protocol that allows dispatchers to recommend telehealth consultations for cases that don’t require physical transport.
9. Continued Mergers and Acquisitions: Smaller ambulance services might merge with larger entities to pool resources and improve efficiency. For example, two regional ambulance services might merge to reduce administrative costs and expand their service area.
10. MIH/CP Becoming More of a Foothold: Growth in community paramedicine programs. An example is an EMS system integrating community paramedics who visit patients at home for follow-up care, reducing hospital readmissions.
11. Paramedic Responsibilities Including Other Health Care Settings: Paramedics taking on broader roles. For instance, paramedics might staff vaccination centers or community health fairs, showcasing their versatility beyond traditional emergency responses.
12. Challenges from Economic and Organizational Factors: Ambulance services facing a combination of economic pressures and organizational challenges. An EMS provider might have to navigate tighter budgets due to reduced reimbursements while dealing with increased operational costs due to inflation.

Managing Unpaid Bills:

• Implement Advance Payment Systems: Require partial or full payment before non-emergency services. For example, collecting a deposit for non-emergency transport bookings.
• Negotiate Payment Plans: Offer flexible payment plans for patients struggling to pay bills. For instance, allowing a patient to pay off a large bill over several months.
• Engage Collection Agencies: For chronically unpaid bills, partnering with a collection agency can be a solution. For example, transferring accounts that are over 120 days overdue to a specialized agency.
• Insurance Advocacy: Work with patients to maximize insurance reimbursements, reducing their out-of-pocket expenses.
• Transparent Pricing Policies: Clearly communicate costs to patients beforehand to reduce disputes and delayed payments.

These strategies not only address the current trends and challenges in the private ambulance industry but also offer solutions for managing one of the critical aspects of the business – unpaid bills.