American Medical Response, American Medical Response, - AMR American Medical Response - Emergency Medical Services Corporation EMSC, is a ripoff, they billed me $1250 for a 7 mile trip, when they quote $850 Palmdale, California

American Medical Response
www.amr.net
1055 West Avenue J
Lancaster, CA 93534-3328
(661) 947-2171

aka Emergency Medical Services Corporation (EMSC)

Unethical billing practices 

1. The amount billed is grossly excessive for a 7 mile trip to the hospital

2.  This was NOT a life-threatening call as I was able to communicate with your personnel and make decisions

3.  I was never informed in advance of the charges for your ambulance services

4.  If I would have known I would be grossly and excessively charged for this service, I would have asked before the service was provided.  I thought I would have been reasonably billed around $250 to $400 for the service

5.  This is the first time in 9 years I have ever used an ambulance service

6.  I have a right to know in advance what the charges will be

7. If I was told upfront, I would have refused service and called a family member to take me to the hospital.  I had a kidney stone and had a hard time walking.

8.  I was given an oxygen mask in the ambulance when I DID NOT REQUIRE any oxygen.  If I would have known I was going to be billed for this, I would have refused oxygen because it was not even needed at all.
 
I have called 5 local ambulance service companies and I was quoted anywhere from $200 and up to $800 for the same 7 mile service, plus $4 to $17 per mile.  Your billing is excessive.  You also never gave me the opportunity to know of your billing charges and allow me the opportunity to refuse service.
 
ADDITIONALLY, I called American Medical Response on April 5, 2011 at 12:15PM and spoke to Joe, and he quoted me $850 plus $17 per mile, and told me oxygen was included.  But American Medical Response sent me a bill charging me for the ambulance, oxygen for $55, and $17 per mile totaling $1242.50.  This is highly unethical and fraudulent that you would have such billing inconsistencies and over-charges.

I would never recomend using this ambulance service.  They bill you a higher amount ($400 additional) than what their dispatch service quotes you over the phone.