Locals claim Grand Rapids ambulance company is scamming people

Over the past few weeks, multiple people reached out to the 13 HELP Team claiming they were charged for an ambulance service they never received. In each case, the bill came from American Medical Response, or AMR. One of the men says he fought the charges, and they were eventually dropped. But we also met with a couple that’s still fighting, and they asked the 13 HELP Team to join the fight.




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[JTJ]

AMR is a horrible ambulance service who contracts all over the country that I believe should be shut down. Not only are they doing stuff like this, they over-work their paramedics and EMT's. Even when they are contracted to have a specific number of ambulances available, they have been known to either force workers into work by holding over crews or shorting the ambulances in the area. I've seen them work in rural Kansas and in Topeka, Kansas and I refused to even apply for them when I became a paramedic because even in the early 2000's, their reputation was horrible. They had the nickname of American Money Response for a reason. They always will underbid areas to get the contracts to make it seem like the cities are getting a good value for their money but in reality, the community are the one's who suffer.

[sierraansley]

AMR has a history of doing this and similar things for years in many states. They are predatory. After my bill was resolved they added another $1, 200 on with no explanation. I got that removed but if you look them up with Better Business Bureau etc, you will see hundreds of reports like this.

[debrakleid]

I was a medic for about 10 years and most agencies don’t charge people if they refuse transport. People who don’t go may get charged if they received medications such as D50 for low blood sugars or a nebulizer treatment but for only a blood pressure check and refusal they usually don’t get charged. Some agencies however do charge for a refusal but it’s usually around $50. Not almost $550. Something is messed up with this!

[maryr]

Took them over 40 minutes to arrive at my parents' home when my father was having a brain hemorrhage. They didn't believe my mom that he was having a stroke and even when they arrived they said it was just the flu and took their sweet old time getting him to the hospital. Horrible company - would never want them to be called if I had a medical problem.

[CymryDragon]

"13 on your side" telling you just enough to piss you off without actually following up.

[chadhaight]

When my son died at home of natural causes the Nashville ambulance service showed up, pronounced him deceased and left without performing any medical assistance.. I was charge $500.. And just like these folks, the bill was not itemized explaining any reason for the charges..The funeral home transported my son at zero cost..

[lorenhamstra]

Where is Danna Nessel, our Michigan Attorney General, on this. This is outrageous to take advantage of people like this. Their fees should be driven by the services provided.

[R.Oates]

I can't imagine how horrible it was for a loved one to find their wife dead by suicide!
😢

[VintageToiletsRock]

I'd rather die then ever be transported in any of their SCAMBULANCES!

[urbanracer]

No way, not AMR?! Uncle Ted gotta make those ski chalet payments somehow.

[CChile-pnze]

$250-500 for arriving and assessing the patient seems to be the new norm in order to maintain staffing.

[CourtneyW-jrfx]

When i asked for ambulance to hospital paramedic was relaxed and eating taco bell like it was a joke

[Nervegas]

And this is why EMS should be taxpayer funded as a public service and not be held by private companies.

[nickmoore]

Come on man you should go to the hospital with paramedic if I fall down I call 911 they will thing fire truck and ambulance a there's a fire station how about a mile away from my house

[JanSuerth]

No offence but they did provide a service to them even when they didn't transport.
Ambulances aren't a cab.
Transportation is part of what they do but things like diagnostics and treatment of course also get charged. Same would happen in a clinic/hospital. No matter if they have patient contact and transport them they still had to send the ambulance there and stay until released from scene. Even cabs have an initial charge that applies even before any foot has been driven with their passenger.

Rather then going of on AMR I would rather look into why the insurance company isn't covering this service.

[youmadbro]

It's AMR, they're a terrible BLS provider

[johnpalomo]

EMS has to respond to suicides to pronounce death a medic absolutely walked into that house after it was cleared by PD to call medical control and get permission to not start resuscitation. Charging for that is wrong though.

[InsiderBoy]

And nothing is going to happen to the company. Lol.

[christinasornbutnark]

AMR are crooks same thing happened to me here in California. *Straight up CROOKS* 😊

[khawmtiti]

You're in Michigan and why you're going to a Chinese restaurant in Wyoming