Readers Respond: Ambulance Crews Refusing to Transport

Medicare's payment rules only cover ambulance bills if patients are transported somewhere. There's no incentive for ambulance providers not to take folks to the ER. But, should they always transport? Do they ever say no?

Share your opinion about ambulances refusing to take non-emergencies to the ER. Is it a good idea? Have you been denied? See what other readers think and share your own opinion. This is your chance to respond.

U.S. ambulances are doing a good job

I have never had problems with an ambulance refusing to transport me in the U.S. I would not call one if I did not think it could be an emergency. Besides that, I live alone with my now two year old son who is afraid of ambulances and paramedics, so I would never ever want to frighten my treasured baby. Since CPS forced me and my son to go into an ambulance after I fell with my son in my arms, my baby screams and cries every time he sees one passing by. I think the paramedics treated us really well (I thank them for that), but CPS should never have forced us to go in. I could have taken a taxi. Now, my baby is paying the price every time we see an ambulance. He looks like he saw a ghost. There are other countries where ambulances refuse to come, even if it could be an emergency. In French Polynesia, they refused to come even though I had a kidney stone attack and could barely move, let alone walk to a taxi with my baby. I don't thank them.

—Capucine1974

Ambulances are for Emergencies ONLY

I am an EMT. 90% of my calls are non-emergency. A child with a peanut in his ear does not rate an ambulance ride. Mom, drive the kid yourself and save $600. I promise he won't die. Called to a 35 year old male at 3 AM, stubbed his toe on the way to the bathroom. He THINKS he MIGHT have broken it. Do you think we have an Xray on the truck? A 62 year old female has ringing in her ears doesn't want to go to the ER. She only wanted to know if the ringing might mean she's going deaf, meanwhile there are no units available to respond to a child drowning call! By most governmental law, patients cannot be charged until they are transported. This means anyone can call 24/7 and have someone race to their house to check them out, then leave without transport and that person will not be charged. There are plenty of times that it's better to be safe than sorry. I agree. But I don't mean call every day at noon because the DR told you check your BP regularly. I ran every call I listed.

—Guest B_MOORE

They Met Us

We were out to eat and my husband started coughing up blood--it was scary! We got in the car and looked for a hospital, but ended up calling 911, and they met us in a parking lot near where we happened to be at the time. They didn't take him in, but they told us where to go, and that was really helpful. They checked his vitals and discerned that he was okay before sending us on our way, though. And they let us choose whether we drove or they drove him. I think that this is the way it should be.

—Guest Elizabeth369

say yes transport everyone

Its a tough call and when time is important I say take them. Is it heartburn or a heart-attack? etc etc. I have also just recently read a few articles that have actually encouraged people to go by ambulance because the person gets treated better and right away, instead of sitting in a packed hospital waiting room for hours and hours.

—Guest vicki

Abuse of Emergency Services

My take may be different because I am a nurse. I say yes, they should be able to deny transporting a non-emergent case. Many people abuse the emergency services system. I see so many ambulances bringing in drunks and drug addicts that just tear off their patches and remove their IVs when they sober up and leave AMA. If it is not an emergency, let them get there on their own. Harsh, maybe, but necessary, in my opinion.

—djtcopd

This is a Tough One

Having recently been in a frightening car accident, I have told everyone who will listen that the speed of response by the ambulance crew was nothing short of miraculous, I would be horrified if we were denied service because the ambulance was tied up by a non-emergency call. On the other hand, this seems to put a lot of pressure on the EMTs to make a tough call out on the street. And, where I live, this EMTs are all volunteers. I wouldn't endorse anything that makes their job harder.

—Guest BAB

Stable Medical Transporting

My understanding is that a charge is incurred once the ambulance is dispatched by 911. Therefore the patient has technically already paid to be taken to the ER. I've never heard of anyone being refused and truthfully ambulances transport stable patients from hospital to hospital all the time. I think refusing would open a whole can of worms. The ER is not allowed to discriminate against patients regardless of their illness or ability to pay and those laws are in place for good reason. I think they dito for the ambulance crew.

—khayesrn

Who Makes the Decision?

On what really constitutes an emergency? This is a tough call without specific details about individual circumstances. Wasting resources is certainly something you would think the healthcare system should try to avoid. However, who makes the call about who gets transport and who doesn't. (And how well qualified is that person to make that call?) I worry about abuse if being "selective" becomes the norm. Are ambulances then less likely to answer calls to areas they'd rather avoid (like areas where people typically may be less likely to have a means to pay their ER bill)?

—Guest Natalie

Money and Lack of Education

This is another aspect of healthcare where money, lack of access and lack of education form the perfect storm. In your example you describe the mother who wants her child taken to the ER. Is she afraid for her child? Or doesn't she have insurance and knows the ER will have to care for the child? If the ambulance doesn't transport the child won't she have to pay for the ambulance call from her pocket? And if she really did fear for her child, who taught her how to do something different, like take the child's temp or bathe the child in cool tub water to bring a temp down? Until we begin to provide viable alternatives, the question can't be a blanket yes or no - transport or don't. We're wasting lives AND resources and not providing tools. There are no easy answers to your question.

—TrishaTorrey

Emergencies Only

I have read reports in the local paper that ERs are overwhelmed with non-emergency cases. If an ambulance provider is absolutely certain there is no emergency, I don't think they should be compelled to transport. On the other hand, is it up to them to decide if it is an emergency or not? That's a lot of responsibility.

—Guest OMDaisy