Patients not evacuated by ambulance get discount

Committee approves measure that would give 50 percent discount to those treated but not taken to hospital.

By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH
Magen David Adom ambulance 311 (photo credit: REUTERS)
Magen David Adom ambulance 311
(photo credit: REUTERS)
The Labor, Welfare and Health Committee approved on Wednesday a 50 percent discount on Magen David Adom ambulance fees for patients who received treatment but were not evacuated to a hospital.
Committee chairman MK Haim Katz (Likud) said the regulations were approved in cases where MDA medics were alerted and the patient was treated but able to remain where he was. The treatment may include questioning the patient about symptoms and medical history, and using technological means to examine him, including taking blood pressure, blood tests and physical exams of more than one bodily system.
According to existing law, MDA staffers and volunteers must charge for their services.
Under the new regulations, the fee for patients who are not evacuated will be 25% lower when a mobile intensive care unit is called (for a total of NIS 175 after the discount) or 50% when an ordinary ambulance is called (NIS 184 after the discount).
The regulations the committee approved followed the passage of a government bill stating that MDA will not collect fees if the patient was only examined but not treated or if he refused to be evacuated to hospital. Now, even if the patient is willing to be evacuated, he will pay reduced fees if treated but not brought to hospital.
MDA is now entitled to give discounts and be flexible in setting fees when providing services that are not emergency evacuations, such as taking patients by ambulance to pre-arranged medical appointments, ensuring an ambulance is present at public or mass events or providing treatment at an MDA station.