08/07/07 Reducing air medical transport costs

Washington Ag August 7, 2007 Northwest MedStar, a service of Inland Northwest Health Services has created a membership program designed to protect patients from high out-of-pocket expenses related to critical care air medical transport. Mary Gilmore of Northwest MedStar says the price of the program is 59-dollars for one year, or 150 dollars for three years, and will cover the participant, his or her spouse, and any dependents claimed on their income tax return. Gilmore: "Whatever you insurance doesn't cover MedStar would absolve that cost so you would not incur any out-of-pocket expense. And it is really out there for the rural communities and I think very important for the farming people in our area." Gilmore says typically out-of-pocket expenses for medical air transport can run from two thousand to eight thousand dollars. Gilmore: "So for $59 a year somebody could have a membership and they would not incur any out-of-pocket expense for that transport." Northwest MedStar has fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters located at Spokane and the Tri-Cities for quick response throughout the region. To find out more visit www.nwmedstar.org. I'm Bob Hoff.