The Ambulance Service Claim Filing Process

EMS Billing Services provides billing services to emergency medical service providers in eight states. As a courtesy to the patient, we file your claim to your insurance carrier with the information provided. However, it is ultimately the patient’s responsibility to file the claim with non-contracted insurance companies, furnish information and follow up with the carrier until payment is made.

Billing statements are sent to the patient if:

• there is no insurance;
• if we have insufficient information to file a claim;
• if insurance has denied coverage;
• if there is a balance due after insurance has paid. If you have not yet received a statement, we may still be processing your insurance claim.

Questions & Answers

The following are a list of common questions asked by patients. If you have additional questions, please submit your question to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

How do I make my payment?

Please make your check payable to the emergency medical service provider that transported you (the name at the top of your statement) and mail to:

EMS BIlling Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 641880
Omaha, NE 68164

What if I don’t have insurance?

What if Medicare denies my claim?

Medicare will pay for transports that are reasonable and "medically necessary." The term "medically necessary" means that the symptoms that are reported at the time of transport fall into Medicare's specific criteria. If you claim was denied as "not medically necessary," it does not mean that your should not have called the rescue squad or ambulance! If your claim was denied you certainly have the right to appeal the claim. You should gather as much information as you can about your medical history, your care during your hospital stay, your diagnosis, and supporting paperwork from the attending physician if possible and submit it to Medicare's Appeal Department. Please contact us if you need assistance or you can call your local Medicare SHIP office.

Why did my insurance company mail the check to me?

Some insurance carriers operate through contracts. Rescue services cannot possibly be contracted with every insurance carrier in the United States. Sometimes this causes checks to be mailed to the patient instead of the health care provider. If this happens, you may simply endorse the check over to the medical service provider and mail it to us.

Why didn’t I get a bill?

EMS Billing Services, Inc. submits the vast majority of the paperwork for insurance claims for the patient. We are frequently able to process payment in full without burdening the patient with the claims-filing process. If that is the case, you may not receive a bill. If you would like a copy of the bill for your records, just let us know and we will happily mail it to you. Tip: You should receive an explanation of benefits from your health insurance carrier.

Why should I pay to a volunteer service?

In the past, many volunteer services subsisted on donations from the community. Through the years, the costs of fuel, medical equipment, training and supplies have escalated dramatically, while the donations from the community have diminished. Although your emergency medical service providers may be unpaid volunteers, your emergency service provide incurs substantial costs for vehicles, insurance, equipment, fuel, tires, oil, maintenance of vehicles, buildings, utilities, medical supplies, telephone and radio communications and continual state required training. The money received does not go into any volunteer’s pocket. It is all reinvested back into the rescue service to reassure that the squad will be up and operating to its fullest potential when it is needed. Your payment helps to ensure the continued survival and ongoing quality assurance of the emergency medical service in your community. If you have a volunteer service in your community, rates are set according to the level of service provided. In addition, rates are lower than if they had paid medical technicians and paramedics. As you can see, the absence of payment to the staff personnel does not mean that there are no costs to run the rescue service. Your payment helps to ensure the continued survival and ongoing quality assurance of the emergency medical service in your community. Thank you for your prompt payment.

I pay taxes for these services, don’t I?

While the fire department for your city or town is generally funded by your tax dollars, the majority of voluntary emergency medical service providers receive no tax dollars nor do providers. Some services do receive a small portion of your tax dollar but not enough to support the emergency service. Check with your own rescue department to ascertain whether they receive any tax dollars or to what extent they are actually funded. 

What are these charges on my statement?

Base rate is the charge for the care of the patient and for the continual training expense of the emergency medical technician that is required by the state health department. Mileage cost is estimated to defray some of the costs of buying and maintaining the vehicle in which the patient is transported.