The air ambulance arrived April 16, four days after his heart attack. Shapiro wondered. He and his wife were aboard, along with two medical professionals and one or two pilots, he said. And REVA, the air ambulance that flew Shapiro, billed for more than a half-million dollars in a similar fight in 2017. But he still hopes Excellus will reimburse him the $36,000, so he can get square with the air ambulance company. Fortunately, it turned out that Shapiros heart attack in April 2018 was more scare than a true emergency. Our aircraft are configured with critical-care and life-support equipment that sets the standard in the industry. A Vermont doctor, injured while on vacation in the Dominican Republic, took a REVA Learjet the same type of plane that transported Shapiro back home. "They. They wouldnt even pay to get me from the island to Fort Lauderdale (about half of his out-of-pocket costs). http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-i-95-porsche-fatal-20150903-story.html, http://www.local10.com/news/driver-killed-after-porsche-crash-on-i95-in-fort-lauderdale/35079294. Thank you all. Shapiro said an Excellus rep had promised beforehand that the air ambulance bill would be covered. What sticks, sticks.. Lying in a bed, in a strange area, not knowing if he would live or die, how was he to know there were limitations on travel? Kall wrote in his appeal. But two days before their planned return, on April 12, 2018, Shapiro said he started feeling weak. The hospital agreed to pay $218,116, then later regretted it, according to a December 2017story on VTDigger.com. McIntyre Law has clients all over the country, but we treat them all as if they lived right around the corner. He was wearing his seatbelt. Flying someone from a distant island is bound to be more expensive than an average domestic flight. So Excellus takes it out of me? he said. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Lauderdale Tower, Medevac 111 Whiskey Bravo requests change in IFR Flight Plan ? REVA could technically go after Shapiro personally. | The Horth- Ch Questions about a news article you've read? If there are no rewards from your air ambulance case, you dont pay the lawyer. It does not store any personal data. Its fleet includes 12 Series 35. During the past four years, Captain Patrick Gustin piloted medical evacuation flights between six continents -- shuttling injured and ill Americans abroad to U.S. hospitals; airlifting premature babies to critical care units and flying people of all ages, with various conditions, for urgent treatments. 1. We dont get paid until you do. The Association of Air Medical Services, an industry trade group, says that air ambulance companies have high fixed costs including nurses, mechanics and pilots, and that this legislation would cause bases to close. But, that still doesnt account for the $40,000 bills that some patients have received for their transport costs. The reviewer suggested that Shapiros decision to fly all the home put him at unnecessary risk. Shapiro wondered. A 2019 G.A.O. It was like a little sardine can," he said. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. To make up the deficit, the group says, those who are commercially insured must shoulder a greater burden. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. We believe communication with you helps us achieve the best outcomes for your case. may be available from PACER. Two of the biggest air ambulance providers are owned by private equity firms. As proof they noted that he decided to fly all the way home to Syracuse instead of getting help as soon as he reached U.S. soil. The letter rebutted the various points she had made in her complaint, including her assertion that the company inflates its prices. Christina Wray, the lead plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit against PHI, received a bill for $57,374 in 2015 for a flight from Taos, N.M., to Albuquerque after being exposed to carbon monoxide from a faulty heater, the lawsuit said. Were on a cruise, in the middle of an island. We disagree our rates are inflated, Susan P. Potter, a lawyer for Life Flight Network, wrote in the letter, which was obtained by The New York Times. When a seriously ill child needs air transport, parents dont hesitate to take the flight. The reviewer also faulted Shapiro for flying all the way home to Syracuse, and not getting treatment in Fort Lauderdale. A new single-engine helicopter that is equipped as an ambulance can cost $4 million to purchase, and the cost of each flight could be between $7,400 and $10,000. Advancing to captain status, at many carriers, is a decade-long process., His mother, Cindy Gustin, recalls, It was love at first flight. She continues, When Patrick was 16, he flew a demonstration instruction flight. Others will pay part of the bill, and patients are typically billed for the remainder, a process called balance billing. The Company has completed over 25,000 missions to over 65 countries since inception. Shapiro said he checked himself in to the ships doctor that evening. In some cases, we will appeal decisions to provide the best coverage. Some people want to fight air ambulance overbilling on their own, but they dont realize they are often signing up to go against experienced lawyers from insurance companies or big corporations. Our lawyers are ready to work with you to build a class-action case to help all victims of air ambulance overbilling. Sign up now to get NYT Parenting in your inbox every week.]. N990LC. Average REVA Air Ambulance hourly pay ranges from approximately $12.50 per hour for Human Resources Intern to $146 per hour for Emergency Medicine Physician. But Excellus is citing the $656,063 figure in denying any payment at all, he said. Since the nation's founding, African Americans . As proof they noted that he decided to fly all the way home to Syracuse instead of getting help as soon as he reached U.S. soil. REVA Air Ambulance - Crunchbase Company Profile & Funding But, he says, the bigger pain came later. Captain Gustin graduated Embry-Riddle in 2005 with a B.S. Reva Air Ambulance - Directional Aviation And more importantly, theres not really any recourse for consumers who feel they have been unfairly charged. He is survived by his father Michael, his mother Cindy, brother Sean and dozens of other family members and hundreds of friends and work colleagues. (877) 917-5250 What to Know Before you File a Lawsuit Your insurance will only cover a small fraction of what you would be charged for an air ambulance transport, and the air ambulance companies are overcharging patients for this emergency service. He shrugged off the initial denial as what insurance companies do.. We have over 17,000 combined successful missions Kenansville, Florida, United States 251-500 Private www.flyreva.com 252,615 Highlights Acquisitions 1 Contacts 69 Employee Profiles 1 Similar Companies 13 Nov 19, 2013 for an undisclosed amount These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia. Rocking Emoji Gif, REVA, Inc. - an air ambulance operator for MedjetAssist, an indirect air carrier. REVA then billed the doctors employer, the University of Vermont Medical Center, for $536,000, according to a news account. Glassdoor has salaries, wages, tips, bonuses, and hourly pay based upon employee reports and estimates. For those on Medicare or Medicaid, the government only pays between $200 and $6,000 per transport. My job over the last 15 years (as a safety supervisor and expedition paramedic for Shark Week) demands that I have a professional emergency evacuation plan should there be a sentinel event or shark attack during a production. Washington, DC 20590855-368-4200. Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield refused to repay Shapiro for any part of the 1,800-mile trip home to Syracuse. Thats when Shapiros wife, Patricia, said she called Blue Cross Blue Shield Global. A Florida-based air ambulance operator cannot proceed with a lawsuit alleging Humana Insurance Co. and two of its subsidiaries significantly underpaid for services provided to their policyholders, a Miami federal judge has ruled. There are currently more air ambulances in circulation than there is patient need. Some families, especially those who live in rural areas, pay for a yearly membership offered by some air ambulance providers, which covers costs that insurance doesnt pay. All Rights Reserved. No matter the reason injured while traveling abroad, a diving accident or cruise ship mishap, REVA provides medical transportation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. But the cost has not decreased: Air ambulance prices doubled between 2010 and 2014, according to a 2017 Government Accountability Office report. His luggage wouldnt fit and had to be shipped separately. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Hed have to fight REVA in court, too. He took the two-week trip with his wife, Patricia, aboard Silverseas Silver Muse cruise ship. REVA Air Ambulance insights Based on 13 survey responses What people like Ability to meet personal goals Ability to learn new things Clear sense of purpose Areas for improvement Support from manager Sense of belonging Trust in colleagues Great PRN Job for RN's and CEP's Flight Paramedic (Former Employee) - Phoenix, AZ - December 30, 2020 Call us to start your air ambulance lawsuit today. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Fixed: Release in which this issue/RFE has been fixed.The release containing this fix may be available for download as an Early Access Release or a General Availability Release. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Contact McIntyre Law to speak with an air ambulance attorney today! Provided below is a list of consumer complaints filed with the U.S. Department of Transportation against air ambulance operators during calendar year 2018. Things got worse when the air ambulance then billed his insurance -- which denied coverage -- for a whopping $656,063. They were told the helicopter ride would take about half an hour, said Ms. Silvy, 33. When that didnt work, the lawyer filed a lawsuit May 23 in Onondaga County Supreme Court. It also provided a place for consumers to report air ambulance overcharges on the Department of Transportation website. Shapiro said he hasnt been personally billed the $656,063 by REVA. They treated me like gold, Shapiro said of his care. Our more than 350 employees are trained and educated to standards higher than the industry requires. But Shapiro says his health insurance covered such emergencies -- and, he added, the global Blue Cross rep he contacted confirmed that. Ft. Im cautiously optimistic were moving in this direction. The insurer has not yet responded in court, but their explanations were contained in Shapiros court filings. That reviewer an unnamed medical doctor certified in cardiovascular medicine agreed the flight wasnt medically necessary. Not to mention the $600,000(-plus) bill hanging over my head.. If language assistance is needed, our dedicated Spanish-speaking staff is available to help with any legal questions you have. After his appeal was denied, Shapiro said he got his lawyer, Sheldon Kall, involved. Then comes a bill, sometimes upward of $50,000. I would highly recommend this company! Humana wins dismissal of air ambulance company's underpayment suit Reva Inc. v. Humana Health Benefit Plan Briefs and Other Related Documents . No laptop, no email.. The company operates 15 medivac aircraft. REVAs fleet includes 16 dedicated air-ambulance aircraft maintained to specifications that routinely exceed FAA-approved aircraft inspection programs. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. REVA Air Ambulance company's worldwide jet fleet is grounded today in observance of one of its youngest captains funeral, which comes in the wake of his tragic, headline news-making car crash on South Floridas Interstate 95. Answer 3 simple questions to join, takes less than a minute. The main hospital was still half-closed following Hurricane Maria in September 2017, which had heavily damaged Tortola before decimating Puerto Rico, he said. The company anticipates resuming normal flight operations on Wednesday. The hospital agreed to pay $218,116, then later regretted it, according to a December 2017 story on VTDigger.com.