Eagle Pass raises ambulance rates and authorizes manager to negotiate interim EMS deal with Maverick County

The Eagle Pass City Council on Feb. 11 adopted an ordinance updating ambulance service fees and later, after executive session, authorized the city manager to negotiate and expedite a contract or extension with Maverick County to continue fire and EMS services to county residents.

The fee ordinance (first reading action recorded at the meeting) updates the city’s EMS billing categories and signals staff intent to pursue higher private-insurance reimbursement where allowable. Fire Department staff told council that a change in billing vendor or billing approach could yield roughly a 30% boost in recoverable revenue, which staff estimated at about $600,000 in additional reimbursements relative to recent collections. The Fire Chief said the proposed commission to a billing vendor would remain near the current level (9.5%), and that overall EMS revenue for 2024 was about $1.6 million (figures presented on the record by staff).

Why this matters: higher EMS reimbursements and updated fees help cover rising operational and training costs for paramedic staffing, equipment and ambulance maintenance. The authorization to negotiate with Maverick County is time-sensitive because staff reported the county’s last executed agreement expired in September 2024, raising the risk of interrupted services for county residents if no interim terms are agreed.

What council heard and decided

- Fee structure and rationale: The Fire Chief explained the department’s operating and training costs had increased and that paramedic certification costs roughly $7,000 per person (including recertification every four years). He also cited ambulance replacement costs (approx. $390,000 per unit) and ongoing equipment, fuel and maintenance needs as drivers behind the updated fee schedule.

- Revenue projection detail: The Fire Chief said, “we’re leaving money on the table” with current private-insurance billing arrangements and that a different billing vendor could capture more revenue. The department projected that improving private-insurer collections could add roughly $600,000 to current revenue levels, with the billing commission proposed to stay at about 9.5%.

- Clinical outcomes context: As part of the presentation, staff reported on clinical performance: of 68 cardiac-arrest calls in 2024, 32% of patients were successfully resuscitated locally; council heard the national survival benchmark is roughly 10%, which staff used to illustrate local clinical outcomes.

- Council action: Council adopted the ordinance language updating ambulance fees (staff will add formal definitions for BLS/ALS categories before the next reading) and later, after executive session consultation under Tex. Gov’t Code §551.071, authorized the city manager to negotiate and expedite an interim agreement or extension with Maverick County to preserve fire/EMS coverage for county residents while a final contract is negotiated.

Next steps and follow-up: City staff were directed to return with negotiated terms as soon as possible; council requested the city manager aim to return with a proposed interim agreement at the March meeting if negotiations allow. Staff also will return with the ordinance language including the requested ALS/BLS definitions prior to final adoption.

Attributions: direct quotes and numeric figures above are taken from staff remarks recorded in the Feb. 11 meeting transcript; the Fire Chief and city staff provided the revenue, cost and outcome figures on the record.