Already struggling to get paid, first responders are being kept busy by the increased number of emergency calls coming from Recovery Centers of America at Devon, a relatively new addiction treatment facility on the Main Line, writes Erin McCarthy for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Some soon-to-be patients use one last time before checking into the rehab and end up overdosing. But every call to the local volunteer fire company is another one it might not get paid for.

The Berwyn Fire Company responded to 102 calls from RCA at Devon last year. The company billed $126,000 for them but collected only $40,000.

“If something doesn’t change with how medical reimbursement works, we’re going to have a problem,” said Berwyn Fire Chief Eamon Brazunas.

The nearly $86,000 in outstanding funds from last year are due to flaws in how insurance companies handle the medical billing reimbursements for out-of-network providers.

Meanwhile, RCA has donated to the firefighters, police officers, and EMTs who help the facility, including recently donating $25,000 to Berwyn Fire Company and $15,000 to Easttown Police Department.

Read more about the local first responders struggling to get paid in the Philadelphia Inquirer here.

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