Williamson County, Texas

Yes, patient request for medical records can be made by contacting our Privacy Officer:

Theresia Carter
PO Box 873
Georgetown, TX 78627
(512)-943-1264 Phone
(512)-943-1269 Fax

If the records are picked up at our administrative office, a valid state or federally issued photo ID must be presented by the patient and a Patient Request for Access to Protected Health Information form will be completed. We require 24 hours’ notice to pick up records in person during normal business hours.

If the request is fulfilled by mail, email or fax, the Patient Request for Access to Protected Health Information form must be notarized. There is a 10 business day turnaround time from request to release of the medical record.

The request must be made on the requesting organization’s letterhead and be accompanied by the proper authorization to release protected health information form.  Williamson County EMS can subsequently disclose the requested information to the organization in accordance with the authorization.

We do charge a $25.00 fee for records requested/subpoenaed by an attorney, record retrieval service, or other 3rd party.

There is no charge for records requested directly by the patient or personal representative.

If the patient is deceased a Death Certificate and a Letter Testamentary, Letter of Administration or other document establishing the requester as the Personal Representative must be presented. Additionally, the Patient Request for Access to Protected Health Information form or Authorization to Release Protected Health Information signed by the legal personal representative of the deceased must be presented.

WCEMS provides Advanced Life Support (ALS), Basic Life Support (BLS), Inter-facility transports as well as treatment with refusal of transport. All care is provided by Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians trained in basic and advanced life support.

Regardless of what type of medical service or transport is provided by WCEMS, you may get a bill. WCEMS contracts with a third party billing agency – WCEMS contracts with a third-party billing agency. Every effort is made to seek reimbursement, first, from the patient’s insurance carrier. Balances not covered by insurance are billed to the patient.

Ambulance fees reduce the tax burden of emergency medical services for Williamson County residents by shifting a portion of the cost to users of the service or their medical insurance carrier. Currently, these fees help recover a portion of the cost of providing EMS.

Cost is based on the type of service provided, either Basic Life Support or Advanced Life Support. There is cost associated for evaluation without transport.

Fees are approved by the Commissioners Court. User fee is assessed at the following levels of service:

Williamson County EMS ambulance base rates:

• No transport (NT) base rate - $489.15
• Basic Life Support (BLS) base rate - $1,032.65
• Advanced Life Support (ALS 1) base rate - $1,521.80
• Advanced Life Support (ALS 2) base rate - $1,956.60

Williamson County EMS Supply fees:

• Oxygen - $81.53
• Basic Life Support (BLS) supply fee - $108.70
• Advanced Life Support (ALS) supply fee - $244.58

Williamson County EMS Mileage rate:

• Loaded mileage rate - $19.57 a mile

As a tax payer in Williamson County, a portion of your tax liability funds the EMS system. The funding provided by the Commissioner’s Court pays to have the EMS system ready to respond to an estimated 26,000 emergencies per year. The annual budget provides for 14 ambulances and 1 squad unit 24/7, 3 peak demand ambulances, 3 command/high priority response units, and a large backup fleet. All are staffed by highly trained paramedics and emergency medical technicians under the supervision of a full time EMS / Emergency physician. By billing those who use the services, the revenue collected helps offset the costs to the taxpayers.

The medic’s role at an emergency scene is to care for the patient, not negotiate medical billing.

Medics will make an attempt to collect and enter your insurance information into your medical record on scene. This information is then provided directly to our billing office. Any missed or additional information may be provided by contacting our billing office at (877) 200-9362.

WCEMS attempts to obtain signatures from patients, if it is possible. If the patient is not able to sign, because of their condition, the medic notes this in the medical report. The billing office will then reach out to the patient or patient representative for necessary signatures.

As a courtesy to the patient, we will file insurance when provided with accurate insurance information within the timely filing limitations set by your plan. Insurance companies pay claims based on the type of coverage each individual policy provides. To determine what your insurance may pay, you must read the contract you have with your insurance company. Medicare will not pay if you are not transported to a hospital. Medicare and Medicaid will not pay if you are transported, and they do not consider the reason for transport to the hospital to be a life or limb threatening emergency.

WCEMS balance bills for non-Medicare, Tricare, VA, Medicaid and Worker’s Compensation insurers. WCEMS does not have contracts with private insurance companies; therefore we do not waive the unpaid portion of the bill. The patient is responsible for any copay, coinsurance and deductible according to their insurance plan.

Our contracted billing agency is available to provide you with billing statements, file your insurance and assist you with insurance appeals. Every effort is made to work with the patient to assist them with any remaining balance.

Yes, our billing office will work with you to set up a payment plan that best meets your needs.

EMS Management & Consultants
PO Box 429
Lewisville, NC 27023-0429
WCEMS Customer Service Line:  877-200-9362
7am – 5pm CST
Patient Portal: https://emsbilling.com/patient/

Payments may be made by check, money order, credit cards, health savings and flexible spending cards.

No there is no fee for payments processed by credit card.

No, EMS only bills the person that received the services.

Yes, if the protection states our bill will be paid if & when settlement is received.  The account is put on a 6 month hold pending the outcome of the litigation.  Acceptance of a letter of protection is not automatic acceptance of reduced settlement payment.

The average bill for an ambulance transport is approximately $1,450. Many insurance plans cover a portion of the cost, depending on the patient’s insurance plan documents. Most of the bill comes from the ambulance transport base rate. The remainder consists of mileage and supplies.

Ambulance service/transport rates are approved by Williamson County Commissioner’s Court.