Boro resolves problem with ambulance billing BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer SPOTSWOOD - With an accounting discrepancy related to the borough's first aid service now resolved, officials say the nearly year-old program has been a success. Due to what officials said was a book-keeping problem on the part of a private company, the borough was not compensated for all the services provided by Spotswood Emergency Medical Services, a paid operation begun in January to augment the all-volunteer services of the Spotswood First Aid Squad. Council President Curtis Stollen said the squad itself kept an accurate log of its trips and services since the start of the year, but there was an obvious discrepancy with the numbers provided by the private record-keeping service, DCM. The problem was clearly a mistake, as the company would have no reason to leave out certain trips. Regardless, officials wanted the problem resolved because the borough needs the insurance money. With the system begun in January, bills for the service are submitted to the insurance carriers of those who receive assistance. The patients themselves are not charged. Stollen said the borough's administration met with the company handling the billing and the problems were resolved. "They're a leading biller, and have a history of doing it well," Councilwoman Marge Drozd said of DCM. "They get a cut out of what they collect from insurance companies for the trips." Stollen said that soon after a trip, there are forms that have to be filled out and they include information about a person's insurance. Software glitches caused some trips to not be reported, but there were also instances when company employees assumed someone did not have insurance and did not record the trip. "They were making decisions that weren't theirs to make," he said. "They decided [if something] wouldn't be collectible." DCM will cover any claims that are rejected by insurance companies because of late billing, according to Stollen. "So I don't think the borough will see any repercussions from the missing reports," he said. The money is needed to cover the cost of the squad, which uses about 12 paid emergency medical technicians. "Spotswood cannot afford to lose any revenue," Drozd said. The contract with DCM was set up so the company would collect the insurance money and then send Spotswood its share, she said. However, that process has been reversed. "Now we get it and send their share," Drozd said. "I think the system in general has been a fantastic success," Stollen said. "The response time is great and people are helped by the quick response."