Council considers EMS billing providers

The finance committee of the Hillsboro City Council heard from MBI Solutions this week, a provider of EMS billing affiliated with Premier Health Care Service out of Highland District Hospital.

During a committee meeting April 8 at the Hillsboro City Building, Andy Cook and Anne Riddiough addressed council members and outlined how their company could potentially save the city thousands of dollars.

"Why can you be more effective than MED3000 (the city's current provider)," asked safety and service director Ralph Holt. 

Cook said that MBI has access to physicians' updates to insurance, as they have access through their PHCS affiliation, whereas, many companies only get partial insurance information when a patient is brought in, and it can take 30 to 60 days before additional information is acquired. He also said the company utilizes technology to resolve open accounts, they interface with fire and EMS reporting software which cuts down on multiple people doing data entry, which leads to fewer errors; and they prepare and submit all Medicare, Medicaid and other insurance carrier applications on behalf of the city.

MBI is contracted with more than 70 fire and EMS departments across Ohio, including Paint Creek Joint Fire District in Greenfield, and the cities of Chillicothe and Circleville.

Riddiough said that on average the city is receiving $208 per run. With MBI customers, she said, "$250 is the lowest we had," and can be close to $400 on certain runs.

At approximately $250 per run, if the department has $2,100 transports annually, that is an estimated revenue between $525,000 and $630,000. 

Finance committee chairperson Peter Pence said the committee would look at the company's references, "and do our due diligence on our part to make sure we know what we're doing."

Holt said the city would be contact MED300 to see if they would have a counterproposal in light of what MBI is now offering.