EAST ST. LOUIS — A class of patients and their families claim a helicopter ambulance transport company uses predatory billing practices, charging some patients up to $153 per mile for medical transport services.
Teresa Belyeu, Gary Budnick, Keith Cotton, Bridgette Diaz, Amanda Dyke and others filed a complaint April 27 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois against Air Evac EMS Inc., doing business as Evac Lifeteam, alleging breach of implied-in-fact contract and predatory billing practices.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs were all patients or those who had loved ones that were transported "under medical circumstances" using Evac Lifeteam services. Specifically, the plaintiffs allege that there was "no express contract for payment" for the medical transportation prices. They also allege Evac Lifeteam did not disclose the amounts "they intend to charge" for the transportation, with one plaintiff being billed more than $51,000.
Charles Armbruster
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The plaintiffs allege the defendants sent a charge for the transportation based on "mileage" and a "helicopter rotor base charge" and then billed the plaintiffs amounts "that vastly exceeds" the cost of the transport and "fair market value" of the service. The plaintiffs also allege the defendants used assignment of benefits to bill insurance that bind the plaintiffs to pay "whatever defendant charges" even if it is an unreasonable amount. The plaintiffs claim the charges are "frequently in the $10,000s," and if left unpaid, Evac Lifeteam proceeds with collection efforts.
The plaintiffs seek monetary relief, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. They are represented by Charles Armbruster, Roy Dripps and Michael Blotevogel of Armbruster Dripps Winterscheidt & Blotevogel LLC in Maryville.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois case number 3:21-CV-422