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Virginia Beach chief proposes compassionate EMS billing to fund ambulances, squad support
Summary
Chief Jason Stroud outlined a plan to start a compassionate EMS billing program that the city projects could generate $14.7 million and fund ambulances, training, pharmacy costs and 29 additional uniformed positions; volunteer rescue squads have endorsed the approach with conditions.
Chief Jason Stroud, director of Virginia Beach Emergency Medical Services, told the City Council on May 6 that the city should adopt a “compassionate EMS billing” program to provide a sustainable funding stream for ambulance staffing, equipment and volunteer rescue squads.
Stroud said the city’s consultant estimated $14.7 million in annual revenue and that the proposal would return more than $4 million to volunteer rescue squads, add 29 uniformed EMS positions (33.5 FTE total including administrative staff), centralize medical supplies and cover pharmacy startup and operating costs. “A compassionate EMS billing program . . . can provide the much needed funding in order to help sustain the Virginia Beach EMS system,” he said.
Why it matters: Virginia Beach relies on a hybrid system of career personnel and 10 independent volunteer rescue squads that operate as 501(c)(3) corporations. The…
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