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1. Why am I receiving an ambulance bill?

If you were treated or transported by the City of Poway Paramedics, you will be billed for the service and are responsible for payment. If you provided insurance information to the paramedics at the time of service, Wittman Enterprises will bill your insurance provider. If additional insurance information is needed, it will be noted on the bill you receive. You will continue to receive a bill with the current status of the account until payment in full is received, either from your insurance company or from you personally.

2. Will the City of Poway bill my insurance?

As a courtesy, Wittman Enterprises does bill Medicare, Medi-Cal, TriCare, and private insurance companies. However, the bill is ultimately the patient’s (or parent's, in the case of a minor patient) responsibility, and it is the patient’s responsibility to work with the insurance company to ensure payment is made to Wittman Enterprises.

3. Do you accept credit cards?

We currently cannot accept credit cards when making payment toward your ambulance bill. We accept checks or money orders payable to the City of Poway or cash. Please do not mail cash.

4. How are the fees for ambulance transport and emergency medical services determined?

A comprehensive cost of service study was conducted in 2021 to determine the city’s cost of providing services.  Studies are important to ensure the City’s cost recovery is in alignment with the cost to provide service.  The amount charged for a fee may not exceed the cost of providing the service. 

5. Why don’t our property taxes cover the costs for ambulance services?

The Poway Fire Department is funded through a combination of property taxes and user fees. Tax dollars help provide for the availability fire prevention and protection, and emergency medical services. While tax dollars do help subsidize a small portion of the ambulance operation, patients transported by ambulance must pay an additional fee for the individual service they received.  The fees help lessen the burden on the tax paying public.

6. How often are fees adjusted?

Fees will be adjusted each year effective July 1 based on the Consumer Price Index.

7. Can I make monthly payment arrangements?

Yes, Wittman Enterprises can make monthly payment arrangements. To establish such an arrangement, an agreement must be made between the patient (or the patient’s guardian, caregiver, or power of attorney) and Wittman Enterprises. To make payment arrangements, please call 800-906-6552.

8. What is Advanced Life Support?

Advanced Life Support includes emergency medical care performed for sustaining life, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), defibrillation, airway management, and the administration of drugs and medications. Additional medical procedures may include cardiac monitoring, I.V.’s, and the use of diagnostic devices.

9. What is Basic Life Support?

Basic Life Support generally does not include the administration of drugs or invasive skills.