FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The Branchburg Rescue Squad is a volunteer organization that provides basic life support (BLS) and rescue services.  We are manned by trained volunteers and rely solely on contributions from the local municipal government and the residences and businesses of our coverage area to raise the funds that we need to operate.  We do not bill for any of the services we render.  Why then, if the Branchburg Rescue Squad does not bill for services rendered, would you receive a bill?

Reason #1: Advanced life support (ALS) services were rendered by one of the hospital-based medic units.  Certain types of emergencies necessitate evaluation and/or treatment by the paramedics.  The medic units are dispatched in conjunction with the Squad, and if the situation warrants, will evaluate and/or treat the patient.  The primary medic units that respond to Branchburg are the units based at Somerset Medical Center and Hunterdon Medical Center.

Reason #2:  You were serviced by one of the mutual aid squads that bill for their services.  Several of the squads located in the surrounding communities (i.e. Flemington-Raritan Rescue Squad, Hillsborough Rescue Squad and White House Rescue Squad) bill for their BLS services.  Additionally, Somerset Medical Center operates several BLS units.  There are several reasons why services from a mutual aid squad would be required:

• If the Branchburg Rescue Squad is responding to an emergency call when additional services are requested, the next available squad will be dispatched to render aid.  Typically, this will be the squad from the neighboring community that is closest to your residence.
  
• The Branchburg Rescue Squad runs scheduled duty crews every night from 6 pm to 6 am and from 6 am to 6 pm on Friday through Monday.  Unfortunately we do not have enough members who are available during the day to provide adequate staffing, in a timely manner on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.  Therefore, Whitehouse Rescue Squad stages a crew at our building during this time period.  We made this arrangement to ensure that care is provided to the residents of our community as fast as possible.  Regardless of which outside entity we would make this arrangement, all would charge for their services.

In all cases, the providers who bill for their services should submit the bill to your insurance company.  If you have medical insurance and receive a bill, contact the agency that rendered care so that they can obtain the necessary information to submit the bill to your insurance carrier.