HOSPITAL AND FLIGHT PROGRAM REIMBURSEMENT FOR PATIENTS TRANSFERRED BYHELICOPTER

To determine the reimbursement status of a helicopter aeromedical prog ram and its sponsoring hospital, the financial records of all patients transported by a university hospital-based helicopter aeromedical ser vice during a one-year period of time were examined. The flight progra m was able to collect only 43% of patient charges, recouping only 24% of its operating costs. The hospital collected 57% of its total charge s to patients transported by the helicopter aeromedical program. Reimb ursers paying on a per-diem basis comprised 36% of the payers and had collection rates of 50% and 10% for the hospital and flight program, r espectively. Cost-based insurers constituted 20% of the payers, provid ed 44% of program revenue, and had collection rates of 92% for the hos pital and the flight program. If cast-based payers had reimbursed on r ates similar to the per-diem payers, the hospital would have recovered only 49% of its charges and the flight program, would have recovered only 26% of its charges, recouping only 15% of its operating costs. In conclusion, reimbursement for helicopter aeromedical services and for the care provided to aeromedically transferred patients is poor. Spon soring institutions are consequently subjected to significant financia l stress that possibly challenges the fiscal viability of some program s. (C) 1995 by W.B. Saunders Company