Senior’s $237 bill for help to get up riles daughter-in-law

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This article was published 06/12/2024 (651 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It cost Katherine Bobychuk $26.33 per minute to get helped up by city paramedics after she took a fall in her suite.

The 89-year-old, who lives in Kildonan House, an assisted-living facility at 216 Edison Ave., wears a Victoria Lifeline alert button. Her tumble triggered a call from them, and when she said she couldn’t get up, an ambulance was called.

Despite not needing to go to a hospital, the city sent her an invoice for $237, one week after the Oct. 9 incident.

“I was horrified,” said Barb Bobychuk, her daughter-in-law. “We were all under the impression that if there was no transport, there’s no cost.”

She requested a patient care report from the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service. The document shows she was assessed at 2:56 p.m. and the call was completed at 3:05 p.m. after she passed on the option to be taken to hospital for further evaluation.

The document shows paramedics had checked her blood pressure, temperature and heart rate, and got her upright again once it was deemed safe to do so.

“My biggest issue is the charge — an outrageous amount for someone on a fixed income,” Barb Bobychuk said.

The younger Bobychuk worked for emergency services for the City of Winnipeg for 23 years before retiring in the spring. While there, she took calls from people who would plead with her — often while sobbing — not to call an ambulance because they couldn’t afford it.

“Now I know why they were so upset,” she said.

So far this year, the city has issued 8,242 invoices, worth $1,693,191, for treatment without ambulance transport.

The city stressed it doesn’t keep the fees, but collects them on behalf of Shared Health, the provincial health authority.

Shared Health deferred comment to the provincial government on Thursday, suggesting it sets the fees. The government said it was unable to comment before deadline.

The city said the billing practice has been in place for many years; current available records date back to 2010.

“Individuals who receive treatment or assessment in their home, but are not transported to hospital may still receive a bill for these services,” a city spokesperson said. “A fee is charged based on the nature of service provided to a patient.”

The WFPS rate sheet shows a $474 flat rate charged for paramedic treatment provided without transport to hospital.

Funding from Shared Health slashes that charge in half, but still leaves individuals on the hook for $237.

Had Katherine been taken to hospital by ambulance, she would have been charged an additional $13.

The WFPS charge for ambulance transport to hospital is set at $1,511. After $982 is paid by Shared Health, and $279 is covered by Manitoba Health, a patient pays $250.

That bill used to be $500 before Shared Health reduced it in 2019.

That’s not good enough for Barb Bobychuk.

She said many people can’t afford it and that will dissuade some from calling 911.

“It could be life-threatening, and they’re afraid to because they don’t have the money for someone to come and check on them,” she said. “It’s frustrating because the government wants seniors to age in place, and then they’re charging this outrageous amount.”

Those who can’t pay and have their bills sent to a collection agency can expect a 17 per cent charge tacked on to the bill.

The city said health comes first and no one should hesitate to call 911.

“If a patient’s condition is potentially life- or limb-threatening, or if a condition could worsen on the way to the hospital, then emergency medical services are needed,” a spokesperson said.

“As well, in situations where the patient has experienced a fall, assistance should be provided by medical professionals to avoid causing further injury. Paramedics are highly trained medical professionals and carry medication and equipment which may be required. If an individual considers driving themselves or having a family member drive them to hospital, they should consider whether distance or traffic may cause delays. Paramedics can quickly get a patient to the best emergency department or urgent care site for their illness or injury.”

The city noted that when crews arrive for a well-being check, if a basic medical assessment is provided, with no cardiac monitoring or blood sugar readings required, for instance, and the patient determines they do not want to go to hospital, no invoice is issued.

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca

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