Critical Care Services Inc

TO PROVIDE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE MEDICAL CARE AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR PATIENTS.

ROTOR WING SERVICESPROVIDES AIR TRANSPORTATION OF PATIENTS REQUIRING CRITICAL CARE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE IN HELICOPTERS CONFIGURED FOR MOBILE INTENSIVE CARE 3,371 TRANSPORTS. LIFE LINK III PROVIDES HELICOPTER AIR MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION INCLUDING ON-SCENE EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND INTER-FACILITY TRANSPORT 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS PER YEAR. WITH HELICOPTER BASES THROUGHOUT MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN, LIFE LINK III TRANSPORTS ALL TYPES OF CRITICALLY ILL OR INJURED PATIENTS.

FIXED WING SERVICESPROVIDES AIR TRANSPORTATION OF PATIENTS REQUIRING CRITICAL CARE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE IN FIXED WING AIRCRAFT CONFIGURED FOR MOBILE INTENSIVE CARE 284 TRANSPORTS. LIFE LINK III PROVIDES AIRPLANE AMBULANCE TRANSPORTATION THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS PER YEAR. LIFE LINK III HAS A DEDICATED, MEDICALLY-CONFIGURED AIRPLANE READY AT ALL TIMES AND HAS ACCESS TO A FLEET OF OTHER AIRCRAFT FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO TRANSPORT ALL TYPES OF CRITICALLY ILL OR INJURED PATIENTS.

LIFE LINK III'S AIRPLANE AND HELICOPTER TRANSPORTATION SERVICES ARE ACCREDITED BY THE COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION OF MEDICAL TRANSPORT SYSTEMS (CAMTS), WHICH REFLECTS THE ORGANIZATION'S COMMITMENT TO MEETING OR EXCEEDING THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF PATIENT CARE, QUALITY AND SAFETY. THERE WERE OVER 162 CAMTS ACCREDITED SERVICES NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY BY THE END OF 2021. LIFE LINK III IS ONE OF ONLY 60 MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY THAT ARE CAMTS ACCREDITED FOR THE TWO MODES OF CRITICAL CARE AIR MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION: ROTOR WING AND FIXED WING. LIFE LINK III SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE REACCREDITATION PROCESS IN MARCH 2019. THAT EXTENDED ACCREDITATION THROUGH MARCH 2022.LIFE LINK III PROVIDES OUTREACH EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO PRE-HOSPITAL AND HOSPITAL-BASED HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS COVERING SUCH TOPICS AS HELICOPTER LANDING ZONE SET UP, SCENE SAFETY, PATIENT TRANSPORT PREPARATION AND OTHER PATIENT CARE TOPICS. LIFE LINK III ACTIVELY PARTICIPATES WITH THE COMMUNITIES IT SERVES, INCLUDING PUBLIC, INFORMATIONAL, SCHOOL, INJURY PREVENTION AND COMMUNITY EVENTS. THESE EVENTS HAVE RESUMED WITH CAUTION AFTER THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC. IN 2021 THE ORGANIZATION DONATED MORE THAN 1,715 HOURS OF CLINICIAN TIME, 157 HOURS OF PILOT TIME AND 50 HOURS OF AIRCRAFT TIME FOR 268 SEPARATE COMMUNITY AND HEALTHCARE-RELATED EVENTS AND TRAININGS. THE 143 OUTREACH EDUCATION PROGRAMS TRAINED 23,800 EMS AND COMMUNITY-BASED MEDICAL AND FIRST RESPONDERS.IN ADDITION TO THE COMMUNITY AND HEALTHCARE-RELATED EDUCATION AND SAFETY EVENTS, LIFE LINK III CONTINUES TO SEEK NEW CHANNELS FOR DELIVERING EDUCATION TO EMERGENCY SERVICE, FIRST RESPONDER, AND HEALTHCARE PERSONNEL FROM MINNESOTA, WISCONSIN, AND SURROUNDING STATES. LIFE LINK III PROVIDES HIGH QUALITY CONTINUING EDUCATION WITH EXCEPTIONAL SPEAKERS AND SPECIAL GUESTS THROUGH BOTH ITS CLINICAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM AND LINKED EVENTS, A REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL SERIES THAT BRINGS EDUCATION TO THE REGION WITH THE GOAL OF ENHANCING SKILLS AND DEMONSTRATING TRANSPORT BEST PRACTICES FOR PROVIDERS OF ALL LEVELS, FROM RESCUE AND PRE-HOSPITAL SITUATIONS TO TRANSPORT AND IN-HOSPITAL TREATMENT.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCELIFE LINK III MAINTAINS A FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM CALLED COMMUNITY CARE. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES CARE FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNINSURED OR UNABLE TO AFFORD THE COST OF SERVICES. WE MAINTAIN RECORDS TO IDENTIFY AND MONITOR THE LEVEL OF CHARITY CARE UNDER THIS PROGRAM. APPLICANTS FOR OUR CHARITY CARE PROGRAM ARE REQUESTED TO PROVIDE CURRENT AND PRIOR YEAR INCOME INFORMATION. WE USE INCOME-BASED CRITERIA IN OUR DETERMINATION OF CHARITY CARE AND USE 300% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES ESTABLISHED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES IN DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY. IN 2021 THE COST OF PROVIDING CARE TO PATIENTS UNDER THIS PROGRAM WAS $1,045,082. LIFE LINK III PARTICIPATES IN GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS AND IS COMMITTED TO SERVING ALL PERSONS IN NEED REGARDLESS OF RACE, CREED, SEX, NATIONALITY, RELIGION, DISABILITY, AGE OR ABILITY TO PAY. TO PROMOTE ACCESS TO ALL INDIVIDUALS, LIFE LINK III PARTICIPATES IN THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC HEALTHCARE PROGRAMS: MEDICARE, MEDICAID (PRIMARILY MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN), MINNESOTACARE, BADGERCARE, AND OTHER GENERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. PAYMENTS FROM THESE PROGRAMS FREQUENTLY DO NOT COVER THE COSTS LIFE LINK III INCURS TO SERVE PROGRAM BENEFICIARIES. IN 2021 THE COST OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES PROVIDED BY LIFE LINK III WAS $8,198,712 IN EXCESS OF THE REIMBURSEMENT RECEIVED FROM PUBLIC PROGRAMS.PATIENT RECEIVABLES AND CREDIT POLICYPATIENT ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE ARE UNCOLLATERALIZED PATIENT OBLIGATIONS THAT ARE STATED AT THE AMOUNT MANAGEMENT EXPECTS TO COLLECT FROM OUTSTANDING BALANCES. THESE OBLIGATIONS ARE PRIMARILY FROM LOCAL RESIDENTS, MOST OF WHOM ARE INSURED UNDER THIRD-PARTY PAYORS ON THE PATIENTS' BEHALF. OR, IF THE PATIENT IS UNINSURED, THE PATIENT RECEIVES AN AUTOMATIC DISCOUNT EQUAL TO THE DISCOUNT GIVEN THE ORGANIZATIONS LARGEST THIRD PARTY PAYER, THEN THAT PATIENT IS BILLED DIRECTLY. ONCE CLAIMS ARE SETTLED WITH THE PRIMARY PAYER, ANY SECONDARY INSURANCE IS BILLED AND PATIENTS ARE BILLED FOR COPAY AND DEDUCTIBLE AMOUNTS THAT ARE PATIENTS' RESPONSIBILITY. PAYMENTS ON PATIENT ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE ARE APPLIED TO THE SPECIFIC CLAIM IDENTIFIED ON THE REMITTANCE ADVICE OR STATEMENT. LIFE LINK III DOES NOT HAVE A POLICY TO CHARGE INTEREST ON PAST DUE ACCOUNTS. PATIENT ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE ARE REDUCED BY AN ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS. IN EVALUATING THE COLLECTABILITY OF PATIENT ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, THE ORGANIZATION ANALYZES ITS COLLECTION HISTORY AND IDENTIFIES TRENDS FOR EACH OF ITS MAJOR PAYOR SOURCES OF REVENUE TO ESTIMATE THE APPROPRIATE ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS AND PROVISION FOR BAD DEBTS. MANAGEMENT REGULARLY REVIEWS DATA ABOUT THESE MAJOR PAYOR SOURCES OF REVENUE IN EVALUATING THE SUFFICIENCY OF THE ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS. FOR RECEIVABLES ASSOCIATED WITH SERVICES PROVIDED TO PATIENTS WHO HAVE THIRD-PARTY COVERAGE, THE ORGANIZATION ANALYZES CONTRACTUALLY DUE AMOUNTS AND PROVIDES AN ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS, A PROVISION FOR BAD DEBTS AND CHARITABLE CARE. FOR RECEIVABLES ASSOCIATED WITH SELF-PAY PATIENTS (WHICH INCLUDES BOTH PATIENTS WITHOUT INSURANCE AND PATIENTS WITH DEDUCTIBLE AND COPAYMENT BALANCES DUE FOR WHICH THIRD-PARTY COVERAGE EXISTS FOR PART OF THE BILL), THE ORGANIZATION RECORDS A SIGNIFICANT PROVISION FOR BAD DEBTS IN THE PERIOD OF SERVICE ON THE BASIS OF ITS PAST EXPERIENCE, WHICH INDICATES THAT MANY PATIENTS ARE UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO PAY THE PORTION OF THEIR BILL FOR WHICH THEY ARE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE STANDARD RATES (OR DISCOUNTED RATES IF NEGOTIATED) AND THE AMOUNTS ACTUALLY COLLECTED AFTER ALL REASONABLE COLLECTION EFFORTS HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED IS CHARGED OFF AGAINST THE ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS. IN 2021 THESE BAD DEBTS TOTALED $3,125,491.PATIENT ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE ARE RECORDED IN THE ACCOMPANYING BALANCE SHEET NET OF CONTRACTUAL ADJUSTMENTS AND AN ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS.IT IS UNKNOWN HOW MUCH BAD DEBT EXPENSE, IF ANY, REASONABLY COULD BE ATTRIBUTABLE TO PERSONS WHO LIKELY WOULD QUALIFY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE UNDER OUR COMMUNITY CARE PROGRAM.