A number of Victorians have been unreasonably billed more than $500 after being treated by ambulance paramedics, but not taken to hospital, the state ombudsman says.
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In one case, paramedics already at a local oval assessed a seven-year-old boy who had complained of pain in his arm and feeling sick and light-headed. He was told to see a doctor if there were further concerns and his family was invoiced $519.
In another matter, a runner who fell during a race was treated by paramedics who dressed her wound, gave her an ice pack and paracetamol. She refused transport and finished the marathon. As an event-goer, she should not have been billed, as ambulances were at the event on standby, but her treating paramedics were not registered to be there.
Ombudsman Deborah Glass found multiple cases of "questionable practices" in her review of more than 120 invoices by Ambulance Victoria last financial year billed to patients treated without transport.
Ambulance Victoria has agreed to her recommendation that it stop charging people $532 for treatment without transport, when an ambulance is called by a third party.
"There were people being invoiced for ambulances called by well-meaning friends or strangers where transport wasn't required," Ms Glass said.
"Neither the Good Samaritan caller, nor the injured party, expect to receive a bill."
There were also cases where more than one person was attended by the same paramedics at a scene and each of them was billed over $500 for treatment without transport.
Ms Glass's investigation, tabled in state parliament on Wednesday, was prompted by a complaint from a man, Simon, who was billed $519 for treatment without transport after he was hurt in a fight.
The ambulance was called by a third party, without his knowledge, and while he let paramedics assess him and clean his wounds, he refused further medical attention.
He was not told it would cost $519.
Ms Glass accepted it was the role of paramedics to respond to medical emergencies and not get involved in discussions about fees, but said it was "not unreasonable" for people to be told an assessment might cost them over $500.
She also said it was incumbent upon Ambulance Victoria to exercise greater discretion when people dispute an invoice.
"We concluded that while not all the invoices were unfair, Ambulance Victoria's practice of charging people for treatment without transport could result in outcomes that were unreasonable and unjust," she said.
Ambulance Victoria has since waived Simon's fee and agreed to adjust their fees more fairly, including splitting fees where there are multiple patients and exclude charging when an ambulance is called by a third party unknown to the patient, and not used.
CASES HIGHLIGHTED BY THE OMBUDSMAN
* Early on New Year's Day 2018, a pregnant woman was treated by paramedics for secondary exposure to pepper spray, after police sprayed her "aggressive" husband. She was assessed, given reassurance and treatment for her eyes. She was charged $519 for treatment without transport.
* A marathon runner was charged after she fell and injured her face and shoulder. She was seen by first aid officers who requested paramedics. They took her vital signs, dressed her wound and gave her an ice pack, paracetamol and reassurance. She refused transport and finished the final 7km of the marathon. As an event goer, she should not have been charged, as ambulances were at the event on standby, but paramedics who treated her were not registered to be there.
* A seven-year-old boy who saw paramedics attending another scene at a local oval told his mother he had pain in his arm and felt sick and light-headed. A family member approached paramedics, who assessed him and told him to see a doctor if there were further concerns. His family was invoiced $519 without treatment without transport.
* A patient went to a medical clinic with stomach pains and was assessed for transfer to hospital. But as he got into the ambulance, it was discovered he did not have ambulance cover. Paramedics recorded an assessment, although it was unclear whether this was their own assessment or the clinic's. He travelled to hospital in his mother's car but was charged $519 for treatment without transport.
Australian Associated Press
