Ambulance Services

The Ambulance Billing Section is responsible for billing Paramedic services provided by the Long Beach Fire Department.  Any person that needs Paramedic attention or transportation to a local emergency facility will be billed for the transport or the first responder fee.  The patient or the legal guardian (if the patient is under 18), is ultimately responsible for all billed charges.

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The City's Cost

The City of Long Beach funds emergency medical services, specifically ambulance transport and treatment, through a combination of taxes, general City revenues, and fees for service. The City currently bills two separate fees: an ambulance transport fee as well as a first responder fee. The ambulance transport fee partially covers the cost of the transport. The first responder fee provides for the initial treatment and evaluation by either an ambulance or a fire engine response team, regardless of whether a transport occurs. Even with these fees, ambulance transport costs are heavily subsidized.

Taxes and other City revenues cover half the cost for emergency medical services. Ambulance transport and first responder fees pay for the remaining half. This fee structure is common amongst cities and municipalities and allows the Fire Department to maintain the highest level of service.

• Insurance/Billing

  Emergency medical responses are typically covered by insurance policies, minus any deductible or copay if applicable. The following is a breakdown to how various insurance providers may process claims:

  Private Insurance: Ambulance transport and first responder fees are sometimes covered. Services are paid according to the enrollee’s contract with the health plan. After the health plan has processed the claim, the enrollee will be responsible for any in-network cost share amounts such as co-payments, co-insurance or deductibles as determined by the health plan if applicable.

  Medi-Cal: Medi-Cal regulations stipulate that any unpaid balance must be waived and cannot be billed to the enrollee. Medi-Cal will pay an established allowed amount for emergency services.

  Medicare/Plan B: Medicare will cover an emergency transport to the nearest, available facility, however, Medicare does not cover the first responder fee. Medicare will pay an established allowed amount for an emergency transport and the enrollee will be responsible for any cost-share amount established by Medicare such as co-payments, co-insurance or deductibles if applicable.

  To authorize the City of Long Beach to bill your insurance company, please fill out the required Emergency Ambulance Transport Billing Information Form and send via mail to the City of Long Beach, Attn: Ambulance Billing, P.O. Box 22600, Long Beach, CA 90801, via fax (562) 570-6783, or via email to AmbulanceBilling@LongBeach.gov.
  
  The City will bill your insurance provider and provide you with a bill for the applicable remaining balance, should one remain. Any questions regarding copays or coverage of fees should be directed to your insurance provider.
  
  If you have any questions, please contact us at (562) 570-7600, in-person at City Hall, 411 W. Ocean Boulevard, Lobby, Long Beach, Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or email AmbulanceBilling@LongBeach.gov.

• Payment Methods

  You may pay your bill by any of the following methods:

  Mail: Make your check, cashier's check, or money order payable to the City of Long Beach. Remit the payment along with the bill stub to City of Long Beach, Attn: Ambulance Billing, P.O. Box 22600, Long Beach, CA 90801.

  In-Person: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Cashier's Window on the Lobby Level of City Hall, 411 West Ocean Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90802.

  Telephone: Call (562) 570-7600 to pay by telephone. Credit card payments are accepted over the telephone. Please have your E-Account number ready, located at the top left of the bill. We accept debit/credit cards with Visa and Master Card logos only. In order to process your credit card payment, the credit card number and expiration date is required. A transaction fee will be charged by the City's third party vendor.

  Drop Boxes: Payments placed in a drop box will be processed within 24 business hours of receipt. Drop boxes are conveniently located on the Lobby Level of City Hall and outside City Hall at the south east side of the building.

  Online Payment: This feature allows you to pay for ambulance services online. Please click the "Make a Payment" button located at the top of this page. Please have your E-Account number ready, located at the top left of the bill. A transaction fee will be charged by the City's third party vendor.

• Payment Options

  The City of Long Beach provides a number of payment assistance options. Customers may be asked to demonstrate a need in order to receive any of the accommodations listed below.

  Payment Extension: Allows a customer extra time to pay a bill without incurring late fees. Please contact us at (562) 570-7600 to request a payment extension.

  Payment Plan: Allows a customer to establish monthly payments to pay a bill over several months. Please contact us at (562) 570-7600 to establish a payment plan.

  Flexible Payment Program: The Flexible Payment Program provides additional time to pay penalty-free installments, allowing up to 18 months to complete the total amount due.

  
  
  
  
  For questions about payment plan programs for ambulance fees, or support in filling out a payment plan application, please contact us via email at AmbulanceBilling@longbeach.gov or phone at (562) 570-7600.

• Hardship Waiver

  Fees related to ambulance billing can be waived contingent upon supporting financial documents and approval of the City Attorney. Please complete the Declaration of Hardship Waiver Form and return the form along with a copy of your last IRS W2 form (United States federal tax form issued by employers which contains employee earnings) and your most recent bank statement.
  
  Please redact your social security number and/or bank account number from any documentation submitted. Redacting your social security and/or your bank account number will not adversely impact our consideration of your request.
  
  All documents can be submitted via mail to the City of Long Beach, Attn: Ambulance Billing, P.O. Box 22600, Long Beach, CA 90801, via fax (562) 570-6783, or via email to AmbulanceBilling@LongBeach.gov.
  
  English step by step instructions for completing the Declaration of Hardship Waiver Form.
  
  Instrucciones paso a paso en español para llenar el Formulario de declaracion de adversidad economica.
  
  Sunud-sunod na tagubilin sa Tagalog para makumpleto ang Form para sa Pahayag ng Kahirapan.
  
  សេចក្តីណែនាំមួយជំហានម្តងៗជាភាសាខ្មែរ សម្រាប់បំពេញ ទម្រង់បែបបទនៃសេចក្ដីប្រកាសស្នើសុំលើកលែងដោយសារការលំបាក

• Terms and Definitions

  Advanced Life Support (ALS): Advanced care rendered by a Paramedic. Can include cardiac monitoring, establishment of an intravenous lifeline (IV), drug administration, defibrillation, and assisted breathing.

  Basic Life Support (BLS): Care rendered by an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Paramedic that involves advanced first aid but not advanced life support. BLS care includes CPR, splinting, bandaging, and spinal stabilization.

  Coinsurance: A portion of the cost that you pay after your deductible has been met.
  
  Copay: Flat fees that you pay each time that you require a medical service. These are not always required.

  Deductible: An amount you pay before insurance will begin to pay for medical services.
  
  Established Allowed Amount: This is the maximum payment the plan will pay for a covered health care service.

  Explanation of Benefits (EOB): A summary from your health plan of the total charges for the health care services that you received and how much you and your health plan will have to pay.
  
  First Responder Fee: The First Responder Fee will be charged to patients who are medically evaluated and/or treated by Fire Department staff on a first responder unit, such as a fire engine, fire truck, or ambulance.

  In-Network Cost-Sharing Amount: The amount that an enrollee who receives covered services from a noncontracting ground ambulance provider is required to pay. It shall be no more than the same cost-sharing amount that the enrollee would pay for the same covered services received from a contracting ground ambulance service provider.

  In-Network Providers: Providers or facilities that have a contract with your health plan to provide services for plan members at certain costs. Generally, if you get care with an in-network provider or facility, it will cost you less than if you get care with an out-of-network provider or facility.
  
  Mileage: Total miles measured from the incident location to the receiving hospital/facility.

  Out-of-Network Provider: A provider who doesn’t have a contract with your plan to provide services. If your plan covers out-of-network services, you’ll usually pay more to see an out-of-network provider than a preferred provider.

• Records Requests/Subpoenas

  To submit request for medical records please visit: www.longbeach.gov/pra

  Subpoenas only accepted hand served at: Office of the City Attorney, 411 West Ocean Boulevard, 9th Floor, Long Beach, CA 90802
  
  Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

• How do I access the Ambulance Billing fee schedule?

  Click on this link: https://www.longbeach.gov/finance/services-and-permits/fees-and-charges/ to access the City Fees and Charges page. Under Department, select Fire. Under Main Activity, select Medical Services. The current fees for Ambulance Billing will display.