Letters to ABC News Fixer Prompt Air Ambulance Investigation

THE ABC NEWS FIXER— -- Delaware woman Deby MacMichael wrote to The ABC News Fixer to share her story about being blindsided with a $54,862 bill for an emergency helicopter ride for her boyfriend. Her letter, along with several others, prompted the ABC News Brian Ross Investigative Unit to launch an investigation with affiliates across the country into the little-known, high-dollar industry of for-profit emergency medevac flight companies. CLICK HERE to see the full, eye-opening report, and if you have a story you want to share with The ABC News Fixer, CLICK HERE to contact her.

Dear ABC News Fixer: I am writing for my boyfriend, who suffered a stroke in 2014. We went to a local hospital and after reviewing the MRI, they said he needed to be sent a bigger hospital in Philadelphia. Following the doctor’s orders, he was sent by a helicopter air ambulance.

A couple months later, we got the bill for the helicopter ride: $54,862.

His insurance denied it as not being medically necessary. So we tried to appeal. There was some back and forth between the air ambulance company and the hospital over the records needed for the appeal. Then, the next thing I heard, the insurance company said the window for an appeal was closed.

Now we are stuck with this astronomical bill. Can you help?

- Deby MacMichael, Dagsboro, Del.

Dear Deby: You’re one of many consumers around the country who’ve learned the hard way that air ambulance transport can result in a sky-high bill. An ABC News investigation found numerous cases of patients being billed $40,000 or $50,000 for a short helicopter ride -- with their bills offsetting balances the providers say they can’t collect on poor or uninsured patients.

Your boyfriend was airlifted by a provider owned by the for-profit Air Methods Corp., the biggest company in the industry. They billed your boyfriend a base fee of $30,823 to lift off, with a charge of $289.63 per mile for 83 miles traveled, which resulted in that huge $54,862.29 bill.

We decided to start with your insurance, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware, asking if they’d be willing to extend the appeals deadline and review your boyfriend’s paperwork. They told us they were already aware of the issue and would take a look.

A few days later, you got a call with some great news! The insurance company had reversed its decision and agreed to pay the entire bill, minus a $50 co-pay.

We’re glad you got this giant bill off your back. Others around the country have not been as lucky. The ABC News investigation found hundreds of people whose insurance covered only a small portion of their air ambulance bills, leaving them to face debt collectors or lawsuits.

For its part, Air Methods Corp. says it is expensive to provide round-the-clock readiness with helicopter bases that cover 48 states with nearly 400 helicopters and crew. They say Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements are too low, which forces them to bill privately-insured patients higher amounts to make up the difference.

So what can a consumer do?

That’s a tough question, because in an emergency situation, most people aren’t thinking about cost – they’re relying on medical personnel to make sound decisions.

One former firefighter/EMT told the ABC News Fixer that if the situation did not seem dire, he’d definitely ask whether a ground ambulance could be used instead. An air ambulance can cost 25 times as much as a critical care ground ambulance.

Of course, air ambulances are necessary in some cases – especially with critical cases or in rural or inaccessible areas. People living in sparsely populated communities should ask their insurance providers what will be covered in case there’s an emergency requiring air ambulance transport.

Some air ambulance providers also sell memberships that lower the cost, but be sure to check for any caps on the coverage and whether your local hospital or EMS provider contracts with the providers in the plan.

And if you do get a high bill, be prepared to negotiate directly with both your insurance company and the air ambulance provider. In some cases air ambulance companies, including Air Methods, will agree to discount bills based on financial need or offer an installment plan.

- The ABC News Fixer

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