Great Meadows Emergency Medical Service

Effective January 29, 2019, the Squad began to bill insurance companies for our patients, to help fill a gap in the funding of the Squad’s services.  This large gap had resulted from rising training and operating costs.  In the past, the Squad only depended upon donations from our residents, towns and community organizations, to fund our continually increasing operating costs.  The Squad, however, has determined that this method of funding was not sustainable for the future, with our operating costs far exceeding our income.

The Squad, therefore, made the decision to create a billing EMS agency called Great Meadows Emergency Medical Service and to begin billing our patient’s insurance companies, in line with industry, Medicare and NJ Department of Health standards.  Please let us emphasize that all members of Independence First Aid Squad and Great Meadows EMS are VOLUNTEERS and none of our members will receive financial compensation from billing for performing emergency medical duties. Both agencies remain non-profits, and we hope to make income meet expenses. Our townships continue to subsidize the Independence First Aid Squad and we still rely on donations in order to clear expenses. The Squad considers donations from the townships enough to cover those with no insurance and co-pays. The Squad has adopted a “compassionate billing” policy which means we will be charging your insurance company and accepting any amount they pay for the service as payment in full.
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Most importantly, regardless of your insurance status, do not hesitate to call 911 in an emergency.