Base ambulance service changing soon, lower cost Published Oct. 7, 2010 By Brandice J. Armstrong Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Each year Tinker spends approximately $775,000 out-of-pocket to provide base personnel with ambulance services. To offset the cost, the 72nd Medical Group leadership has instituted a change, which they said will not directly affect customers. Effective immediately, the medical group will solicit a portion of the ambulance cost from a customer's health care provider. "The authority to bill other health insurance, OHI, is not new for the 72nd Medical Group," said Lt. Col. Timothy Dykens, 72nd Medical Support Squadron commander. "In fact, it makes up about 20 percent of our budget on an annual basis; we already bill OHI for pharmaceuticals as well as medical services provided in our clinics. Without this, there are many services we would not be able to provide. We have simply extended that billing to the ambulance service." As it was, if base personnel called for an ambulance, a Midwest City Ambulance Service vehicle would take an individual to nearby Midwest Regional Medical Center in Midwest City, free of cost. The medical facility could change depending on the situation and the patient's medical condition. That will not change. But, now when an individual calls for emergency transportation, he will be asked to fill out Department of Defense Form 2569 Third Party Collection Program/Medical Services Account/ Other Health Insurance. Regardless of the outcome -- whether or not a health care provider picks up a portion of the cost -- the customer will not be asked to foot any amount of the bill. But, customers may receive a statement updating them on what transpired. If they are asked to pay, Capt. Quinette Brown, 72nd MDSS Research Management Office Flight commander, said they should bring the bill to the clinic where the debt will be written off. Ambulance services are used roughly four times a day, equating to 1,460 trips to the hospital a year. "We don't want people to read too much into this," Captain Brown said, "we just figured if we put it out there and explained it, they'd be more receptive when they need it." For more information, call Irma Sewell at 734-3413 or Roger Estep at 739-2262.