More hurdles ahead for GFD

Guam - A lack of personnel, equipment and funding is the explanation Guam Fire Chief Dave Peredo is giving in response to concerns raised about the possible loss of millions in fees for ambulance services. While the chief is hopeful they will start using the funds before this May, it seems there's a few more hurdles the Guam Fire Department must go through before the system can fully be implemented.

Joey San Nicolas said, "The bills have been going out collections have been made revenues being generated and we are already drawing down on some of that revenue for the necessary repairs and to purchase necessary equipment." The GFD spokesperson last September gave that statement to KUAM News, indicating that collections for the ambulance service fees were going as planned. However, after a concerned letter from Senator Frank Aguon, Jr. questioning the funds, Chief Peredo admits that even up until today they have yet to collect a single penny in its FLAME Fund for ambulance services.

"The slow start to implement GFD's ambulance fee schedule was caused by three common factors - lack of personnel, lack of training, lack of funds," said the chief.

In fact, BBMR Director Bertha Duenas says the FLAME Fund for Fiscal Year 2008 received just over $19,000, while a little more than $63,000 was put in for FY09, and about $18,000 for the current fiscal year so far. But Peredo says the funds come from the Fire Prevention Bureau and not from ambulance service fees.

SelectCare Health Administrator Frank Campillo says the system should have been implemented a long time ago, saying, "The fire department had the authorization to bill but they didn't have the ability to bill. To bill for ambulances you have to have certain skills, certain software programs and certain ability to provide information to the insurance companies."

Campillo's concerns come as he along with several other local insurance companies have been constantly communicating with GFD about ensuring that the proper forms are in place when the system does take effect. Peredo also requested a business associate agreement with the insurance providers to allow training for his staff. "And that's required all the forms that were going to be submitting to require payment for the services we provide," he said.

Committee Oversight Chair on Public Safety Senator Adolpho Palacios adds that the hospital also needs to take part in the process, noting, "GMH would have to get involved because the GMH would either have to be billed or the insurance would have to directly billed."

Peredo says the department has sent a memorandum of understanding to the Guam Memorial Hospital to see if the hospital can get involved with the payments. GMH says the MOU is currently under review.

Peredo adds that they are preparing an RFP to outsource the billing process, but for now he says the plan is once the patient is picked up, a copy of the ambulance report form stays at GMH while another copy goes to the patient's HMO. The record is then transmitted to the Treasurer of Guam before any money can be placed into the FLAME Fund. Currently, there's no system in place for billing.

"We are aggressively pursing this. It's not that were not doing anything it all - it's just that unfortunate things happen in the past where there's a change of staff," he said. "It has never been the intent on our side to totally ignore this because this is one funding source that we can generate."

Once the system is in place, Peredo says the ambulance service fees are set at $195 for emergencies and $95 for non-emergencies.

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