Why did I get two bills, one from the ambulance service and one from the paramedic service?

Many patients and families express confusion over the concept of a ‘Paramedic Intercept’ and wonder why many health insurance companies, including Medicare, will not pay for such a service.

A Paramedic Intercept is a service provided during a medical emergency, most often in a rural area, where the ambulance operated by the patient’s town is staffed with EMTs. EMTs provide what is called Basic Life Support (BLS) while paramedics provide what is called Advanced Life Support (ALS).