HAMPTON LAKES EMERGENCY SQUAD
Proudly Serving Southampton Township
Hampton Lakes Emergency Squad is a 501(c)3 non-profit community based organization and the provider of Emergency Basic Life Support Ambulance services to Southampton Township.
We are a combination volunteer and career squad, comprised of approximately 50 members answering close to 2,500 calls annually with a fleet of 3 ambulances.
MEDICAL INSURANCE BILLING
This is our primary method of funding.
We utilize a billing practice, known as "soft billing" for residents. This means, we bill your insurance to recoup our costs and do not require payment of your deductible, co-payments, or any other fees from you!
DONATIONS
We heavily rely upon donations from donors like you for capital expenses.
MUNICIPAL SUPPORT
Southampton Township supports us through various different avenues including covering our fuel costs, allowing us to utilize their worker's compensation insurance, and the purchase of an ambulance in 2022.
Record inflation, a broken funding system, and an all time low number of EMTs across the U.S.
Record Inflation and Costs
It is no surprise to anyone that the cost of everything has skyrocketed over the past few years. This has put a massive strain on our financial system.
Payroll costs have nearly doubled, cost for supplies and equipment continue to rise, the cost and wait time for vehicles is unheard of, and the list goes on and on.
With all of this, reimbursement rates from insurance companies (our main source of funding) have stayed stagnant...and low, which brings us to point #2.
A Broken Funding Source
With our main source of billing from insurance payments, we often find ourselves losing money to provide our service...Yes, you heard us right, over 50% of the calls we answer result in NO payment from insurance companies. You see, insurance companies do not reimburse for anything except a transport to the hospital, but yet each year, we treat hundreds of patients without need for hospitalization.
Here are 3 recent examples of where we provided care but weren't reimbursed by Insurance.
A diabetic patient whose blood sugar dropped dangerously low. Crews spent over an hour on scene providing care, ensuring that the patient's blood sugar was raised back to a safe level AND that they were in a position to keep it there.
NO PAYMENT.
A patient in cardiac arrest, where crews attempted lifesaving C.P.R. Crews did what they could and spent time with the family.
NO PAYMENT.
An elderly patient, who called 9-1-1, scared and confused regarding a medical problem. Crews spent time assessing, educating, and treating the patient for a problem that did not need treatment at the Emergency Department.
NO PAYMENT.
Additionally, even when providing a reimbursable service (transport to the hospital), we sometimes still aren't reimbursed enough to cover our costs. The biggest case is point here in Medicaid, who reimburses an ambulance transport with $58... I think it goes without saying but that rate doesn't even come close to covering the expenses to provide the service.
All Time Low Number of EMTs
Across the county, there is a vast shortage of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and Paramedics. This shortage have many different causes and has been developing for DECADES. It all started with a decline in volunteerism many, many years ago.
As volunteerism decreased, agencies (including ourselves) were forced to hire paid personnel to supplement the system and ensure Ambulances were there when you called.
Today, the system continues to struggle. There are fewer and fewer EMTs year after year. This is due in part to low pay, poor or no benefits, harsh and long shifts, PTSD and other mental health strains, a tool on the body, and much much more.