WPKY reported resident Linda Ball addressed the court telling that her 49-year-old son collapsed in February. Ball said the ambulance care was excellent, but the cost for it was astronomical.
Ball was told about 80% of Caldwell County ambulance runs involve Medicare or Medicaid. She said her concern is for private insurance patients, who can face large out-of-pocket bills because land ambulances are not covered under the federal No Surprises Act.
She also cited examples of longer emergency transports including those to Paducah and Nashville where mileage alone could add thousands of dollars.
Caldwell Judge-Executive Kota Young said the county shares the concern and added the county has to make sure ambulance service is available, but local government does not have enough power by itself to fix insurance billing rules.
Young also spoke about House Bill 447, a measure sponsored by 8th District State Representative Walker Thomas among others that would address ambulance reimbursement and balance billing issues before the bill died in the Kentucky House in April.
Ball also stated she has tried to contact lawmakers and urged more residents to speak up on the issue.
She also stated 24 states across the nation have passed some type of ambulance billing regulation and she thinks Kentucky should follow.
County leaders said they expect the issue to return before the General Assembly.
story: WPKY
