Membership Offered to Alleviate Unexpected Cost of Air Ambulance Transport

AMR Hawaii courtesy image.

By Maui Now Staff

American Medical Response is now offering an air ambulance medical program for Hawaiʻi residents, to alleviate any non-covered expenses associate with medical transport aboard an AMR Air Ambulance.

It’s been reported that uncovered air medical transports can cost upward of $40,000.

Under the program, members would get prepaid protection against covered emergency transportation costs that exceed a member’s health insurance or medical benefits.

As a member, AMR representatives say the patient will not experience any out-of-pocket expenses for a medically necessary transport provided by AMR Air Ambulance. “AMR accepts your insurance payment as payment in full,” representatives said.

“AMR Air Ambulance is concerned about both the clinical aspect of a medical transport as well as the financial impact on patients,” said Speedy Bailey, General Manager of AMR Hawaiʻi in a statement. “I am proud to say that our costs are much lower and with the new membership programs, patients can alleviate those unplanned bills.”

AMR is working with local hospitals, case managers and insurance providers, to inform them of the new program and partner with them to arrange air medical transportation.

American Medical Response recently celebrated the second Anniversary of AMR Air Hawaiʻi, providing critical care air ambulance services to the state. “The program is built on a foundation of safety,” said Bailey.

AMR Air Hawaiʻi is the only air ambulance provider in the state that provides two pilots on every mission, and that holds national accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems.

The current fleet of four fixed-winged King Air C90’s are based on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, Maui and Oʻahu.