San Diego Outsources Billing for Helicopter Rescues

The free ride is apparently over for emergency victims rescued by San Diego’s helicopter fleet. Earlier this month, the City posted a request for proposal for “a comprehensive air medical billing service for patients who are transported by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department helicopters.” According to the request, the department’s Air Operations Division operates “two medium-lift helicopters that are utilized both within the City and the County of San Diego in a multi-mission capacity. One of these missions is to support air medical transportation to local hospitals. The helicopters that are operated by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department are categorized as Advanced Life Support Rescue Aircraft. The helicopters are staffed by a minimum of one paramedic and one E.M.T. ” The unit responds to 80 to 100 “cost recoverable Advance Life Support rescue responses per year,” according to the document, which asks for bidders who can keep track of payments and chase down deadbeats.