TLS has learned that MONOC will soon be ceasing its operation, and shutting down.
In a letter to employees today, the company stated it would be ending services by April 1, 2020.
The company wrote, “MONOC has experienced a challenging financial environment caused by declining reimbursements and increasing payor restrictions, while the costs of running a high quality, high performance EMS and medical transport program, continued to rise over the last few years. In 2018, our member hospitals for the first time in over 25 years, began paying a subsidy to MONOC to assist with our financial short fall.”
MONOC also said it saw a decline in service participation from their members.
“With that said, the MONOC Board of Directors have voted unanimously to dissolve MONOC and transfer the MICU program to the patron-hospitals. This will ensure continued viability of MICU services in all of Monmouth and Ocean counties, as well as the designated municipalities within Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic, and Union counties, currently provided by MONOC.”
In the letter, the President wrote, “After 40 years of service to our member hospitals and their surrounding communities, we will prepare to say goodbye to our incredible employees who have worked so hard and dedicated themselves to the mission of MONOC for so long. To our friends in the EMS community and to the new MICU programs that will launch throughout our catchment area, we turn the torch over to you and expect you to carry it forward with reverence for the high quality of service we provided. It is certainly a sad time for those of us who collectively form the MONOC Family, but we know new opportunities await us and we are comforted by the knowledge that we set the tone and led the way in EMS in New Jersey for decades.’
Hatzolah of Central Jersey issued the following statement to TLS in response.
“Once we know more, we will be in a position to make decisions. We are confident that Hatzolah will continue to provide ALS service to the communities it serves.”
MONOC saved my son’s life! I am sad to see this news and want to express my appreciation to the MONOC members for their invaluable service!
HKB”H saved your son’s life.
MONOC were the right Shluchim,
Always remember that
The laws in New Jersey regarding paramedics are very strict. This is a scary tekufa for the community if the new company will not work with Hatzala!! Daven!
This is very interesting news. My only question is, right now, for some reason, monoc is the only ALS service that can administer a certain seizure medication, for which they charge a LOT. I know; my daughter is epileptic and MOnoc gave her that shot more than once. So, if they close up, will they he passing on that right to Hatzolah ?
I hope so.
Will they be writing off outstanding balances?
This is a problem of insurance companies deciding that it is more important to make an absurd profit than to pay out for things they don’t deem necessary like EMS and ambulance services. Then, those insurance companies also don’t pay for a majority of ER and inpatient services. So, the patient is billed and they pay the hospital and doctors first and if they have the money, they pay the transport company. But, because the transport company knows it will get pennies in the dollar — if anything — they over priced their costs to such an extent that the average person cannot pay what they charge out of pocket when the insurance company denies the claim.
Insurance companies do not make an absurd amount of profit. By law, 90% of their revenue has to go towards medical reimbursement. Overhead comes from the other 10% and whatever is leftover from that, is their profit. It is a much lower profit margin than virtually any other business.
The problem is not insurance companies, the problem is the astronomical cost of healthcare itself.
Some bills I have seen over the years
$22k for a one hour surgery
$6k for a 15 minute surgery to insert a pin on a broken bone
These were the post insurance negotiated bills. this did not include the pre-procedure exams or tests.
Every Dr. has a right to make a good living, but even tops specialist are not making $3k or more per hour. Where is all the money going?
hey i will open up a monoc.
oh yeah its monopolized… and still they could not stay open??
something fishy… government should bail them out like GM.
Glen Livit: If course HaShem does everything He’s paraphrasing the Gemara if Wherever days a nefesh Muyisrael … referring time the person who did the physical act
Hope you got it clear now
@justwondering
I agree, every doctor should make a good living. My father had a heart attack and stroke and his bill was over $4 million. The insurance company paid $40,000. I had to help pay the negotiated remaining amount which was a few hundred thousand dollars.
The reason why the costs are so high is because the insurance companies pay pennies on the dollar. So, if the doctors don’t over charge they won’t be able to make a profit. I would rather the doctors make a good living than the insurance companies.