Request for Records
All requests for records must have patient or next of kin HIPAA release. You may download this form here if needed.
All requests for records, with signed releases, should be sent to:
SOUTH BRANCH EMERGENCY SERVICES, INC
ATTN: CUSTODIAN OF RCORDS
PO BOX 207
ALLENTOWN, PA 18105
FEES: $10.00 search and retrieval fee, plus $1.00 a page
All requests for records, with signed releases, should be sent to:
SOUTH BRANCH EMERGENCY SERVICES, INC
ATTN: CUSTODIAN OF RCORDS
PO BOX 207
ALLENTOWN, PA 18105
FEES: $10.00 search and retrieval fee, plus $1.00 a page
Notice of Privacy Practices
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HIPAA Records Release Form
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Questions & Answers Regarding Billing
Q: I received a bill in the mail for services from your organization. Why did I get this?
A: Our emergency medical and rescue service operations rely heavily on financial support from our patients, donors & communities we serve. The bill you received in the mail is because SBES provided services during your time of need. No different than a bill receive for other medical services you might have encountered during our time with you and your continued care, you should submit this bill to any insurance provider you may have, if we have not already received that information.
Q: I thought the services from SBES were given by Volunteers for free. Why do I get a bill?
A: Volunteers make up a large part of our membership, however, there are many other expenses involved in running our service. Part of the billing income we receive does go to cover costs of career members, who help cover our ambulances during times when volunteers are not available to staff them. The charges you receive help ensure there is always a staffed, equipped, and ready to respond Ambulance to answer your call for help.
Q: I received a bill from South Branch Emergency Services. Who can I contact regarding this?
A: Please call our Billing Department directly at 1-800-473-2278. Hours are:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 7:15am - 5:15pm
Wednesday - CLOSED
Q: I have medical insurance, but still received a bill. What do I do?
A: Please call our Billing Department directly at 1-800-473-2278 and provide one of our specialists with your Health Insurance information. It will be helpful to have your primary and any secondary insurance cards with you when you make the call. Hours are:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 7:15am - 5:15pm
Wednesday - CLOSED
Q: I would like to make a payment on my account. Where do I send this?
A: Please send your payments to:
South Branch Emergency Services, Inc.
PO Box 207
Allentown PA 18105
Q: I am on hospital charity care. How do I request charity care from SBES?
A: Please call our Billing Department directly at 1-800-473-2278 to discuss. A package will be sent to you for completion and must be returned.
Hours are: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 7:15am - 5:15pm
Wednesday - CLOSED
Q: Medicare has denied my claim. What do I do?
A: Please contact our Billing Department at 1-800-473-2278. They will assist you on your next steps to take with Medicare. This is often because Medicare needs additional information that you may be able to provide post treatment. Note that any outstanding bill not covered by Medicare will be reduced by SBES to the standard Medicare rates.
If you are denied, you should follow the appeals process sent out in the explanation of benefits letter. This is a 3 step process. Our Billing Department will help walk you through that process.
Q: Medicare has denied by appeals? Now what?
A: Please contact Congressman Tom Kean, Jr's office, who represents the 7th District of New Jersey, and ask for assistance with a Federal Agency. The link to open a new case is https://kean.house.gov/services/help-federal-agency
Q: I received reimbursement directly from my Insurance Company. What should I do?
A: Some insurance companies will pay their subscribers, you, directly for the services provided by our organization. Those payments should be used to offset your outstanding balance, by endorsing the check over to South Branch Emergency Services and sending payment to the address listed above.
Q: I was contacted by a collection agency regarding my bill. What should I do?
A: Patients who live outside of the South Branch Emergency Services response area (which includes most of Northern Hunterdon County) and do not supply insurance information, do not pay their outstanding balance, or receive reimbursement from their Insurance Company and do not forward those payments to our department to offset the costs in the service provided to you, will receive a notice from a Collection Agency. In that case, please contact the collection agency directly at 1-800-690-3857 to make arrangements to pay your outstanding balance.
Q: What are the costs for an Emergency Ambulance Transport?
A: We review our base rates at least annually, and may make adjustments at any time. Our current BLS Emergency Transport rate is $1,250.00, plus $25.00 per mile charge. These are consistent with the industry, and are again used to help offset the costs of our service. Additional fees may be applied for specialized services such as extrication, rescue or advanced life support.
Q: Why did I receive two separate bills for my Emergency Ambulance Transport?
A: Advanced Life Support, or ALS Service, is provided by the Hunterdon Medical Center Mobile Intensive Care Unit for most of our call area. Depending on your insurance coverage, you may receive one combined bill, or two separate bills for the services provided by each agency.
Q: I was not transported by an Ambulance, however still received a bill for service. Why?
A: Patients who receive care from a responding Emergency Medical Ambulance, but then decline transportation by the BLS Ambulance to the Hospital for follow up care, will receive a $250 bill for service. This helps ensure replacement of equipment used, as well as ensuring a staffed, equipped, ready to response ambulance was available to respond to your medical emergency.
A: Our emergency medical and rescue service operations rely heavily on financial support from our patients, donors & communities we serve. The bill you received in the mail is because SBES provided services during your time of need. No different than a bill receive for other medical services you might have encountered during our time with you and your continued care, you should submit this bill to any insurance provider you may have, if we have not already received that information.
Q: I thought the services from SBES were given by Volunteers for free. Why do I get a bill?
A: Volunteers make up a large part of our membership, however, there are many other expenses involved in running our service. Part of the billing income we receive does go to cover costs of career members, who help cover our ambulances during times when volunteers are not available to staff them. The charges you receive help ensure there is always a staffed, equipped, and ready to respond Ambulance to answer your call for help.
Q: I received a bill from South Branch Emergency Services. Who can I contact regarding this?
A: Please call our Billing Department directly at 1-800-473-2278. Hours are:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 7:15am - 5:15pm
Wednesday - CLOSED
Q: I have medical insurance, but still received a bill. What do I do?
A: Please call our Billing Department directly at 1-800-473-2278 and provide one of our specialists with your Health Insurance information. It will be helpful to have your primary and any secondary insurance cards with you when you make the call. Hours are:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 7:15am - 5:15pm
Wednesday - CLOSED
Q: I would like to make a payment on my account. Where do I send this?
A: Please send your payments to:
South Branch Emergency Services, Inc.
PO Box 207
Allentown PA 18105
Q: I am on hospital charity care. How do I request charity care from SBES?
A: Please call our Billing Department directly at 1-800-473-2278 to discuss. A package will be sent to you for completion and must be returned.
Hours are: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 7:15am - 5:15pm
Wednesday - CLOSED
Q: Medicare has denied my claim. What do I do?
A: Please contact our Billing Department at 1-800-473-2278. They will assist you on your next steps to take with Medicare. This is often because Medicare needs additional information that you may be able to provide post treatment. Note that any outstanding bill not covered by Medicare will be reduced by SBES to the standard Medicare rates.
If you are denied, you should follow the appeals process sent out in the explanation of benefits letter. This is a 3 step process. Our Billing Department will help walk you through that process.
Q: Medicare has denied by appeals? Now what?
A: Please contact Congressman Tom Kean, Jr's office, who represents the 7th District of New Jersey, and ask for assistance with a Federal Agency. The link to open a new case is https://kean.house.gov/services/help-federal-agency
Q: I received reimbursement directly from my Insurance Company. What should I do?
A: Some insurance companies will pay their subscribers, you, directly for the services provided by our organization. Those payments should be used to offset your outstanding balance, by endorsing the check over to South Branch Emergency Services and sending payment to the address listed above.
Q: I was contacted by a collection agency regarding my bill. What should I do?
A: Patients who live outside of the South Branch Emergency Services response area (which includes most of Northern Hunterdon County) and do not supply insurance information, do not pay their outstanding balance, or receive reimbursement from their Insurance Company and do not forward those payments to our department to offset the costs in the service provided to you, will receive a notice from a Collection Agency. In that case, please contact the collection agency directly at 1-800-690-3857 to make arrangements to pay your outstanding balance.
Q: What are the costs for an Emergency Ambulance Transport?
A: We review our base rates at least annually, and may make adjustments at any time. Our current BLS Emergency Transport rate is $1,250.00, plus $25.00 per mile charge. These are consistent with the industry, and are again used to help offset the costs of our service. Additional fees may be applied for specialized services such as extrication, rescue or advanced life support.
Q: Why did I receive two separate bills for my Emergency Ambulance Transport?
A: Advanced Life Support, or ALS Service, is provided by the Hunterdon Medical Center Mobile Intensive Care Unit for most of our call area. Depending on your insurance coverage, you may receive one combined bill, or two separate bills for the services provided by each agency.
Q: I was not transported by an Ambulance, however still received a bill for service. Why?
A: Patients who receive care from a responding Emergency Medical Ambulance, but then decline transportation by the BLS Ambulance to the Hospital for follow up care, will receive a $250 bill for service. This helps ensure replacement of equipment used, as well as ensuring a staffed, equipped, ready to response ambulance was available to respond to your medical emergency.