EMSF Program

Opthamologist sitting on chair.

Emergency Medical Services Fund (EMSF)

The Emergency Medical Services Fund (EMSF) is a county program administered by the Health Care Agency that provides reimbursement to physicians for uncompensated emergency care provided through a qualified Orange County emergency room. Emergency care and medical services consist of the medical screening, examination and evaluation of patients to determine if an emergency or active labor exists, and the treatment required to alleviate or eliminate the emergency. Any physician that provides care within the first 24-hours of admission and up to 2 consecutive calendar days in the emergency room is eligible to bill the program if they are currently registered with the program and the claim meets program criteria. The Orange County Medical Association partners with the EMSF program in reviewing program fund distribution and payment methodologies.

Program Criterion for Payment Eligibility

  • Provider must have a current registration filed with the EMSF program. § Registration is available online at https://ochca.amm.cc.
  • Registration enrollments are required biennially.
  • Services must be hospital-based emergency services
  • Services rendered following stabilization are not covered. Stabilization is defined under state law (Health & Safety Code 1317.1(j).) as when, “…in the opinion of the treating provider, the patient’s medical condition is such that, within reasonable medical probability, no material deterioration of the patient’s condition is likely to result from, or occur during, a transfer of the patient…”
  • The physician must take a reasonable effort to collect for his/her services from the patient and other responsible parties. This requires that a minimum of 120 calendar days have passed from the date of service and the physician billing the patient or other third party, and a minimum of (2) requests for payment, without receipt of any payment/denial during that period. Claims older than one-year from the date of service are not eligible for reimbursement.
  • Payment to the physician from any other source on a particular claim renders it ineligible for payment. Any revenue received after payment by the EMSF program requires a refund back to the program of the lesser amount received.

Currently registered providers may set up electronic claim submission or mail claims directly to the EMSF program at:

Advanced Medical Management

PO Box 3509

Long Beach, CA 90853