Press Release

Dec. 16, 2004 Affordable ambulance membership unveiled to help control consumers’ out-of-pocket expenses Service is a partnership to provide regional ambulance transport A convenient, affordable ambulance service designed to alleviate the financial burden of quality emergency medical services has been unveiled for all residents and households served by Marquette General EMS, Mercy EMS, Rampart EMS and Ishpeming EMS. AmbulanceAdvantage, an effort to provide regional ambulance transport in partnership with Marquette General Health System, is an affordable service designed to control consumers’ out-of-pocket healthcare expenses while offering a number of valuable services. For a $50 annual fee, individuals are able to receive all ground ambulance transports within a four-county region (Marquette, Delta, Houghton and Keweenaw). There is a $150 fee for those individuals who don’t have insurance. Membership covers: · Unlimited 911 services or other emergency services · Medically essential non-emergent transports · Medically essential stretcher-bound patients, including nursing home round trips and prior approved dialysis patients who meet insurance coverage criteria · Transfer to and from the closest appropriate facility · Scene evaluation and treatment Household family members are included; Medicaid patients already have full coverage for service covered by Medicaid. An ambulanceAdvantage membership controls out-of-pocket expenses to eliminate costs associated with co-pays, spenddowns, deductibles and reasonable and customary insurance rejections. Membership is effective 24 hours after a single-fee payment (VISA and MasterCard are accepted) is received and verified. According to Venetia Bryers, CEO of Rampart EMS, Inc., a service of MGHS, the membership program has been a staple of Delta County for 30 years. “It began as a means to assist Medicare-eligible patients in containing their out-of-pocket expenses when it was uncommon to have co-insurance,” she said. “Healthcare costs have skyrocketed over the past decade. The Advantage program partners are dedicated to providing both 9-1-1 and inter-facility transfers to the communities they serve at the most reasonable costs possible. By controlling costs, we’re providing peace of mind for those who take advantage of it.” AmbulanceAdvantage evolved, MGHS EMS Director Dan Wolf noted, because deductibles and co-pays by those who utilize EMS services have significantly increased. “The focus is to help our patients contain their out-of-pocket healthcare costs,” Wolf said. “We do not want any resident to hesitate to dial 9-1-1 because of concern with the financial impact on their lives.” Members of ambulanceAdvantage who live within the Upper Peninsula, but are outside the service area and choose to be transferred to MGHS will be covered if transferred by one of the transport partners. For more information, call 1-906-786-2051 or 1-877-446-6443; or email ambulanceAdvantage at info@ambulanceAdvantage.com. A downloadable enrollment form is available at ambulanceAdvantage.com. E-MAIL THIS MGHS STORY Enter recipient's e-mail: Close Window MGHS HOME Marquette General Hospital, 420 W. Magnetic Street, Marquette MI 49855