Wake County EMS Selects McKesson

PRESS RELEASEATLANTA — Feb. 14, 2017 — Wake County EMS , the emergency medical service agency serving North Carolina’s second-most populous county and the cities of Raleigh and Cary, has selected McKesson Business Performance Services (McKesson) for comprehensive revenue cycle services. Wake County EMS responds to approximately 90,000 requests for service and provides approximately 67,000 transports annually.

In addition to providing billing, coding, documentation assistance, compliance and business intelligence reporting, McKesson will automate Wake County’s EMS subscription service. Under the program, Wake County residents that make a voluntary, $60 annual contribution to the Wake Rescue and EMS Fund are covered for emergency transport costs for any household member for one year.

McKesson will manage the service and also establish an Internet-based platform that will allow residents to subscribe, renew and pay for their subscription via a secure Web portal. In the past, subscription enrollees were required to provide credit card information in writing via the mail. McKesson’s Web-based approach will strengthen credit card security and also boost customer service. Wake County EMS officials hope automation will help increase participation in the program and boost revenues for the agency. Currently, approximately 20,000 households representing about 45,000 individuals are signed up for the service.

As part of its Wake County EMS contract, McKesson also is providing a Web-based patient signature feature. This capability allows patients to sign electronically for services after transport is complete if medical technicians are unable to obtain a signature in the field. A patient signature is required to bill Medicare for EMS services. Patients additionally can update their demographic and insurance information and access and print statements online via McKesson’s online patient portal.

Separately, McKesson will handle Wake County EMS’ debt setoff program. The program allows the county to submit outstanding delinquent patient debts of $50 or more to a clearinghouse operated by the North Carolina Department of Revenue. The state then seeks to offset the debts through individual state income tax refunds or winnings from the North Carolina Education Lottery.

Michael Williams, assistant chief, logistics, for Wake County EMS, said the agency was impressed with the range of services that McKesson can provide.

“Helping us automate the subscription service should allow for continued growth of this important program,” Williams said. “At the same time, McKesson’s long-time experience in EMS billing, detailed business reporting and features like e-signature will help us sustain a solid financial footing for our agency. We are really excited to have them onboard and believe they can help us meet the growing financial challenges that all EMS agencies face.”

Pat Leonard, president of McKesson Business Performance Services, said subscription services like those offered by Wake County are becoming increasingly popular nationwide.

“Subscription services, particularly in rural areas, can help offset the cost of advanced care and transport,” Leonard said. “Wake County is a recognized leader in EMS innovation regionally and nationwide, and we are looking forward to partnering with them to further strengthen services to area residents.”

About Wake County Emergency Medical Services

Wake County EMS responds to approximately 90,000 requests for service and provides approximately 67,000 transports annually. The agency is regarded as an innovator in North Carolina and throughout the Southeast. Significant achievements by the agency include a nationally recognized cardiac-arrest save rate, implementation of a pioneering ICE protocol (induced hypothermia by EMS) for post-cardiac arrest patients, and system-wide closest vehicle dispatching using GPS-based automatic vehicle location and navigation systems. For more information, visit: www.wakegov.com/ems