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Ambulance Service Fee Schedule

Ambulance service rates are based on the highest level of care provided and include the following billing categories as identified by Medicare:

Definition: Emergency response is a BLS, ALS1 or ALS-2 level of service that has been provided in immediate response to a 911 call or the equivalent.

Billing Category Descriptions

The following descriptions are provided to assist in determining the appropriate billing category for ambulance service:

BLS (non-emergency) is a response to treat /transport a patient with BLS skills being the highest level of service provided. This includes procedures like checking vitals, oxygen administration, etc., maintaining an existing IV but with no IV initiated. These calls may include a minimal use of supplies. These will be mostly non-emergency "transport" patients who are routinely transported by private ambulance services to various locations (hospitals, doctor's offices, homes, etc.). Hilton Head Island Fire & Rescue rarely handles these types of calls and does so only in defined critical situations.

BLS (emergency) is an emergency response for a patient who is treated /transported to a hospital with BLS skills being the highest level of service provided. This includes procedures like checking vitals, oxygen administration, splinting, bandaging, etc., maintaining an existing IV but with no IV initiated. These calls may include a minimal to moderate use of supplies. These are emergency calls and BLS will be the highest level of service provided. Hilton Head Island Fire & Rescue routinely handles these emergency calls.

ALS 1 (non-emergency) is a response for a patient who is treated /transported and requires an ALS assessment or ALS skills such as IV initiation, cardiac monitoring, blood draws, BGL checks, or up to two (2) drugs administered. They will require a minimal to moderate use of supplies. These are mostly non-emergency "transport" calls between facilities that require an ALS assessment and/or the use of ALS procedures that are above the scope of BLS care. Hilton Head Island Fire & Rescue rarely handles these types of calls and does so only in defined critical situations.

ALS 1 (emergency) is an emergency response for a patient who is treated / transported to a hospital and requires an ALS assessment or ALS skills such as IV initiation, cardiac monitoring, blood draws, BGL checks, or up to two (2) drugs administered. They will require a minimal to moderate use of supplies. These are emergency calls that require an ALS assessment and/or use of ALS procedures that are above the scope of BLS care. These are primarily patients suffering from seizure, diabetic emergencies, breathing problems, auto accidents, etc. Hilton Head Island Fire & Rescue routinely handles these emergency calls.

ALS 2 is an emergency response for a patient who is treated / transported to a hospital and requires an ALS assessment or ALS skills plus three (3) or more separate drug administrations and/or the use of any one of the following skills:

• Manual defibrillation
• Cardio-version
• Cardiac pacing
• Endotracheal intubation
• Chest decompression
• Intraosseous line

These calls will require a maximum use of supplies and are primarily patients in cardiac or respiratory arrest, shock, or critical trauma patients. Hilton Head Island Fire & Rescue routinely handles these emergency calls.

SCT is for a patient being transported from one (1) hospital to another hospital (inter-facility) requiring a specialized attendant riding in order to provide specialized skills above the scope of ALS. They will require a minimal to moderate use of supplies. Hilton Head Island Fire & Rescue handles these SCT transports in defined critical emergency situations.

Treatment/No Transport is for response to calls where "treatment" was performed but no transport to a medical facility took place. Treatment is described as providing oxygen administration, splinting, bandaging, applying hot or cold compresses, IV fluid administration, etc…

The Town of Hilton Head Island's EMS Billing Department will classify each ambulatory service call into one of the six (6) billing categories listed above and bill accordingly. Classification will be based on the highest level of service provided regardless of the supplies used for each call.

No one will ever be denied Fire & Rescue ambulance service based on ability to pay or for the lack of health insurance. When residents need emergency assistance, they should call 9-1-1 without hesitation. Our firefighters / EMTs and Paramedics have been given the best possible equipment and training to ensure the safety and well being of all residents and visitors to Hilton Head Island.  Again, no one should ever hesitate to call 9-1-1 because of inability to pay or lack of insurance.

Call 911 if you are having heart attack warning signs:

• Chest discomfort – most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.
• The discomfort can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body – can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
• Shortness of breath – often comes with chest discomfort, but it can appear before chest discomfort.
• Other symptoms may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or light-headedness.

Call 911 if you are having stroke warning signs:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause.

EMS Billing Information

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