Trauma Star Stickers Coming Soon!
If you are a resident of Monroe County, Florida and air medical transport is required, you may qualify for a waiver of the out-of-pocket costs related to your air-transport fee. In order to use this service, you must request Monroe County Trauma Star to transport you to the hospital, if medically possible.
The emergency nature of most incidents involving medical air transport means that first responders must focus 100% on the care and transport of patients. In many cases when the patient is unable to communicate, medical personnel must rely on documents such as a medical insurance card or driver’s license to identify the patient. With this in mind, Monroe County Commissioner David Rice initiated a discussion about providing small stickers to county residents indicating a preference to be flown by Trauma Star, if medical air transport is required. With unanimous agreement, the BOCC then directed Fire Chief Jim Callahan to implement a program to provide the stickers to all Monroe County residents. The stickers are designed to fit on a driver’s license or other conspicuous document in a wallet or purse that would be visible to emergency personnel.
The Trauma Star Air Ambulance is a partnership between Monroe County Fire Rescue and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, and is staffed by MCFR flight qualified nurses and paramedics, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It costs an average of $16,000 to fly from the Keys to the mainland on Trauma Star – depending on mileage from origin to destination. Medical insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid, cover some of this cost and the MCFR billing office will prepare the necessary paperwork to file a claim on a patient’s behalf. The remaining balance may be waived for Monroe County residents after providing the necessary documents proving residency and payment of property taxes.
In 2009, the Monroe County BOCC passed a resolution adopting the fee waiver program. “County residents are supporting the Trauma Star program through payment of County property taxes” said Fire Chief Jim Callahan. “We want to make sure that all residents are afforded the opportunity to use this critical medical service if they should ever need it” he said.
Soon residents will be receiving an information package along with the stickers in the mail. For more information about Trauma Star or the Resident Fee Waiver Program, contact Monroe County Fire Rescue at 305-289-6010 or go to Monroe County’s website at www.monroecounty-fl.gov, click on the Resident tab and then click on the Trauma Services link.
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Just checking… ” The remaining balance may be waived for Monroe County residents after providing the necessary documents proving residency and payment of property taxes.”
Does this mean if I rent here year round, have done so for many years. Have a drivers License representing that I live here, pay my landlord monthly so he can pay his property taxes…I WON’T be given the privilege of having the balance waived because I don’t pay property taxes?
Hmmmmmmmm… Another blow for the working man that keeps the Keys running…