I'm so glad we understand the whole billing process. Now that we do, and the insurance industry now understands this scheme, what happens when the insurance industry puts an end to ambulance billing after they realize how their politician friends are passing the buck? How much will insurance rates go up as a result of this passing of the buck? If these politicians think they fixed something, think again. EVERYTHING A POLITICIAN TOUCHES TURNS TO GARBAGE!

On top of the residents being victim's in this, the true volunteers who are at the ambulance corps, the dedicated people, are the other victims. Picture your loved one who just suffered a stroke, or the accident victim, requesting the ambulance from Fair Lawn, then the ambulance arrives, everyone is confused, short of breath, hanging onto life, and then the question is asked, "Who is your insurance carrier". The poor volunteer is now looked upon as the grim reaper, only because the very people who decided upon this idea were not on that front line. I blame the officer's at the corps for not standing up for the very values Fair Lawn used to stand for!

Being that the ambulance now "costs" us what have we gotten for our money? What I mean, do they now have a duty roster for at least 2 members to be on-call 24/7? Ok, that's just one rig. Don't we have 3? And don't we have instances where all 3 have been out at the same time? So that's 6 members on call? Since we are paying, do we get guaranteed response times now? Also, has anyone gotten a guarantee that failure to pay Revenue Guard will not become a blemish on one's credit report? In fact, has anyone gotten a hold of the agreement the boro signed with Revenue Guard? Can the taxpayers see what the politicians have actually agreed to?

Volunteer was appropriayely removed. How they could have allowed the town to manipulate them is beyond me, unless something is in it for them. Most volunteers are proud of the volunteer word and would NEVER remove it from their equipment. Make sure you thank our leaders for this ....Who was mayor again last year?

obviously these "volunteers" are not proud

How sad it is that the people making comments have not been educated on the costs and time that is involved. Tax money does not come close to paying the cost to have an ambulance service available at the time of a call. So many volunteers that give up their family lives at all hours of the day and nights, without pay. Those that leave their place of employment to help those in need. You are right, these volunteers are proud enough to be ignoring statements made above and continue to support those in their communities despite their negative comments. Should all of the volunteers decide not to respond and your community then needs to hire in a private ambulance company, then you all will wish the volunteers would still be around. Call a private ambulance company, like AMR and see what a transport would cost. The costs involved do not start when they show up at your door and the cost does not end once they drop you off at the hospital. The cost starts with the long hours of EMT training, the cost of machines and equipment in the back of the squad, the cost of the squad itself that runs into 6 figures. Supplies, gas, tires, buildings, training, electric bills, state required continuing education and travel to those classes, drug licenses, drugs alone, cots that run upwards of $8,000, defib equipment costing upwards of $25,000, software updates and hardware for reporting transports to the states, and the list goes on.

One more comment to be pushed here is the cost of an ambulance ride is going to be less that 1% of any claim paid by an insurance company. If the transport was truly needed, say for a chest pain, then the cost of this transport is hardly going to be the reason that insurance would increase it's premiums. The $2k emergency room visit, along with the diagnostic charges, along with a surgeon's charge of $20k on up for stents or higher for bypass, along with the in hospital stay of $70k for a 4 day stay while recouping is far more of a reason for the insurance to increase premiums than a $500 transport. The fact that the service is willing to not balance bill to you what is left over after insurance pays or denies is quite generous as what tax dollars are being collected is making up the difference. The only time that would be abusive to the insurance companies would be during those 911 calls that come in because of an ear ache, or a cut finger, or waking up with a back pain not caused by an accident and asking a trauma unit to transport a patient that could have ridden in a car safely to the hospital without any risk of loosing life or limb.

It is too bad you are closed minded about a situation that is so very important to a community. We represent over 300 different volunteer ambulance companies in 17 states that are struggling to stay afloat because of the financial burdens. Many have disbanded and the communities are left with no ambulance service or have had to call in a private service. The private services do not setup shop in smaller communities but rather travel a distance from a larger community thus making the response time much longer while someone is waiting in pain. Also the charge is twice the cost of most volunteer services. Try googling volunteer ambulance services that have disbanded recently. The numbers are increasing nationwide because communities have a misunderstanding to the debt and costs it takes to operate an ambulance service and therefore they turn their backs to the organizations that need them most. Volunteer or not. Call me what you will but be greatful you have volunteers at this point.

I am no where near your community nor do I have any dealings with your community. I get tired of hearing people whine about situations in the communities in regards to the ambulance industry and they have not educated themselves but mearly spue off the top of their heads. You are doing more damage than good to these organizations.

Money is not typically asked for while a patient is in duress. But you can bet, the hospitals and doctors are going to ask for payment after treatment. Why is the ambulance any different to not be deserving to offset their cost by the ones that utilize the ambulance instead of the volunteers paying for everyone out of their pockets. The only difference here is that volunteer ambulance companies are just looking to support the ambulance and training so they can be available when a call comes in. You think back to these emails, since you know so much, and remember in the next five years or so when either a private ambulance company does have to support your community, or if your volunteer ambulance disbands, remember that while you are trying to prove a point you have not educated yourself and something could have been done. You obviously are the type that has your hands out for free services.

So how much have you donated to the volunteer ambulance service in the past years? Those who tend to do the most complaining we have found have donated nothing in time or money.

I wonder why Adolph Little Moustache always says he has the freedom of speech to post on any Patch site he wants, when he doesn't live in town, yet he seems to deny that freedom to others?