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EMSAcare to AMR Transition

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1. What ambulance service does Edmond have?

Residents living in the City of Edmond city limits are currently eligible for ambulance service from Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA), but that service is transitioning to American Medical Response (AMR). The target transition date to begin services with AMR is Dec.1, 2023.  

2. Why is Edmond changing ground ambulance service providers?

A change is being made to make sure consistent response, at levels necessary to ensure the highest quality of service to the community, is being met. Over a period of nearly 3 years, for a variety of reasons, EMSA was not in compliance with the target minimum response times for both Priority 1 and Priority 2 emergency calls. This caused extended waits for patient transports, and that, in turn, impacted the availability of Edmond Fire personnel, both EMS and Fire Suppression. Our residents and visitors deserve the highest quality and fastest service we can provide, and that includes a timely response when it’s time to get an ambulance to a patient.

3. Do I live in the City of Edmond?

We regularly receive questions from individuals who are unsure if they live in the City of Edmond. It can be somewhat confusing because their mailing address says “Edmond, OK” but they actually live outside of the city limits. Your mailing address is based on parameters set by the US Postal Service, and those often will label “Edmond, OK” areas as addresses both inside and outside the City of Edmond city limits. 

To confirm your service address:

• Visit https://gis.edmondok.com/addresslocator/ or search “Do I live in Edmond?” 
• Enter your street address on the “Verify my address” page. (Do not use any punctuation).
• It will tell you if you live within the City of Edmond City limits, and if you do, it will provide useful information about your services.
• If you do not live in Edmond, you are not in our Ambulance Service Area.

4. If I am enrolled or elect to enroll in EMSAcare in October 2023, will I automatically be enrolled for AMR service starting in December 2023, with coverage through October 31, 2024?

If you are enrolled in EMSAcare or opt in for enrollment in EMSAcare in October 2023 through your City of Edmond utility bill, that service will roll over to AMR when the new contract begins in December. If you are enrolled in EMSAcare’s annual membership program you will have EMSA care until Sept. 30, 2024. This is only for the cities that EMSA services.

5. What is the cost of getting a subscription with AMR?

AMR has two ways to provide you with coverage for ambulance transport. If you are a City of Edmond resident and receive a utility bill from the City of Edmond, you can receive membership benefits via a $3 monthly fee added to your utility bill. Individuals who do not receive a monthly utility bill from the City of Edmond can purchase an annual membership directly from AMR at $65 annually.

6. When can I enroll with AMR and receive ground ambulance service?

During this initial transition, for the monthly $3 utility billing program there will be an implementation period to allow residents to opt in or opt out. After the transition from EMSA to AMR, Edmond’s utility customers have an annual open enrollment period of Oct. 1 through Oct. 31 each year. This is the only time utility billing customers can opt in or opt out of the program. Customers who opt in for the 2023-24 program year will receive membership benefits from EMSA until the transition to AMR occurs. 

On the day the transition occurs your subscription will change to AMR and remain effective until you opt out. Additionally, new utility customers can opt in at the time they sign up for utility service. Individuals who do not receive a monthly utility bill from the City of Edmond can purchase an annual membership directly from AMR at (844) 793-8426 at any time. Annual memberships cost $65 and are good for one year from the sign-up date. 

7. How do I get a membership for ground ambulance service with AMR?

Contact Edmond Utility Customer Services at customerservice@edmondok.gov or (405) 359-4541 during the month of October or when you start new services, to have a $3 charge included on your utility bill. If you already have an EMSAcare subscription through your City of Edmond utility bill, that subscription will automatically change from EMSA to AMR after the City of Edmond transitions from EMSA to AMR. If you do not receive a utility bill from Edmond, contact AMR (844) 793-8426 for an annual membership.

8. What does it cost if I’m transported by an ambulance?

AMR is a third-party service contracted by the City of Edmond and there are fees associated with those services. A typical ambulance service charge for an emergency transport could be $1,300 plus $19 per mile. There are several ways to purchase memberships that would cover these transport services.

9. Can I be denied ambulance transport if I did not elect to purchase a subscription to AMR?

No, your medical treatment will not change. You will get transport and care, but you will be subject to charges for ambulance transport.

10. How can I reduce the cost of ground ambulance transport?

To reduce or eliminate your out-of-pocket expenses for ground ambulance transport, you may want to enroll in one of the AMR service options. You can do this by opting into the service offered through the City of Edmond, which shows up as a monthly $3 fee on your utility bill, or by purchasing an annual ambulance service membership with AMR for $65. Dec. 1, 2023, is the target date for AMR to provide ambulance service for the City of Edmond. 

11. If I have a membership, who is covered?

All permanent residents of your household under the age of 18 or listed on your utility account are covered, regardless of their age or whether they are a blood relative of the utility account holder. All covered persons must reside in your household. Someone simply in town visiting is not covered. Please make sure all permanent residents in your home over the age of 18 are listed on your utility account to be covered. You can do so by emailing customerservice@edmondok.gov or calling Edmond Utility Customer Service at (405) 359-4541.

12. Is Medicaid different than Medicare for ground ambulance coverage?

Medicaid patients have no out-of-pocket costs for covered emergency ambulance transports. However, others in the household may have Medicare or private insurance and may be subject to charges because Medicare, just like private insurance, can deny claims. Should you have any questions about your eligibility, contact AMR at (844) 793-8426.

13. What constitutes an emergency transport?

An emergency transport occurs any time AMR transports you to a hospital emergency room for urgent, unscheduled treatment of an unforeseen medical condition.

14. What constitutes a non-emergency transport?

A non-emergency transport is a medical transfer that does not have a hospital emergency room as the destination. For example, AMR often transports individuals to nursing homes just after hospital discharge.

15. If I opt out but later change my mind, can I resume participation?

If you are eligible for monthly billing through Edmond Utility Customer Services, enrollment is only open during the month of October, unless you are signing up for a new utility service. City of Edmond utility customers who opt out but then later change their minds may purchase an annual membership directly from AMR for $65. These annual memberships are good for one year from the date of purchase. 

16. If I opt out next October, will I have to opt out every October?

No, once you have made your choice to stay in the program or opt out, that decision will carry forward each year unless you contact Utility Customer Service by emailing customerservice@edmondok.gov or calling (405) 359-4541 in October to change your status.

17. I pay the AMR fee at my home, but my spouse lives in a nursing home. Do they need a separate membership?

No. A participating utility customer does not need to purchase a separate membership for a spouse in a nursing home. Please make sure that your family member is listed on your utility account to be covered.

18. I pay for utilities at my two rent homes, in addition to my residence. Do my renters receive benefits?

Benefits afforded through the utility bill are only for utility account holders and individuals living with them at that residence. Renters who do not have utility accounts in their name may contact AMR directly at (844) 793-8426 to purchase an annual membership.

19. I live at an apartment complex. How do I opt out?

Apartment owners are required to notify tenants if they choose to opt out of the AMR membership program. Ambulance Transport Resident Notification. If you do not pay a City of Edmond utility bill and your apartment has chosen not to participate, you can call (844) 793-8426 and sign up for AMR’s annual membership program.

20. I own/operate a nursing home/assisted living facility. What does this mean for us?

Nursing homes and assisted living facilities are classified as commercial customers. The $3 monthly billing service is available only to residential utility customers, not commercial customers. However, residents of your facility can purchase an individual membership by contacting AMR directly at (844) 793-8426. There are no group or facility-wide memberships for commercial customers.

21. If I work and live in two different ambulance service provider areas, for example Edmond and OKC, will my $3 water bill membership cover me in both areas?

No, your membership is only good for the service area that the carrier provides service for. Example: You live in Edmond and work in OKC, your AMR membership covers you in Edmond. If you want coverage in Edmond, AMR is who you want a membership with. However, if you want coverage for OKC, EMSA is who you want a membership with. If you want coverage in both areas, you will need memberships from both AMR and EMSA to keep from paying out-of-pocket charges in both locations. 

22. What about people who don't have insurance?

If they participate in either the monthly utility billing or the annual contract, they have no out-of-pocket costs for AMR emergency service. The amount they've paid through their utility bill is considered payment in full.

23. I live outside of Edmond but receive an Edmond utility bill. What does this mean for me?

Only City of Edmond utility customers who reside within the Edmond city limits are eligible to participate in Edmond's monthly utility billing program. The only way for individuals who do not have City of Edmond utility accounts to receive benefits is by purchasing an annual membership from AMR directly at (844) 793-8426. AMR’s service is only for the City of Edmond.

24. If my ambulance service provider is unable to respond to my emergency and calls for mutual aid from another ambulance service provider, could I get a bill from the provider that transported me?

Yes, you could. Ambulance service providers do not have reciprocal agreements, even if it was a requested mutual aid response. You can call AMR directly at (844) 793-8426 to ask questions about their benefits and membership. You can also contact EMSA at (405) 396-2888 about their benefits and membership.

25. If I am in the City of Edmond and have a EMSA membership, can I request EMSA to transport me instead of AMR?

No, AMR will have the contract for ambulance transports within the City of Edmond city limits.

26. When the City of Edmond transitions to AMR, will I get an EMSAcare subscription refund if I live in Edmond but am a “direct subscriber"?

EMSAcare direct subscriptions are annual memberships. A current EMSAcare subscription is valid through Sept 30, 2023 if EMSAcare membership is not renewed. If a resident chooses to renew their subscription, their EMSAcare membership will be valid until Sept 30, 2024. EMSAcare memberships are non-refundable. You can contact EMSA at (405) 396-2888 about their benefits and membership.

27. If I don’t live within the City of Edmond or the City of Oklahoma City, can I purchase a membership with AMR or EMSA?

Yes, you can purchase annual memberships from those transport agencies. You will need to contact them and know what areas those memberships provide coverage for. To inquire about AMR benefits, contact AMR directly at (844) 793-8426. You can also call EMSA directly at (405) 396-2888 to ask questions about their membership.

28. If I have a question about services I did not see listed here, who do I contact?

• Edmond: Contact Utility Customer Service by email at customerservice@edmondok.gov or by phone at (405) 359-4541.
• AMR:  (844) 793-8426
• EMSA: (405) 396-2888

29. What does it cost if I call 9-1-1?

There's never a fee to call 9-1-1. Edmond’s 9-1-1 lines are answered by the City of Edmond’s communications team and routed or transferred to the correct first responders. Your emergency call may require Fire, Police, or Ambulance transport and the appropriate first responders will be sent.

30. What does it cost for Fire and/or Police to respond to my emergency in Edmond?

There is no charge for Edmond Fire or Police to respond to your emergency.