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Council approves increase in ambulance transport rates; residents to see about 20% rise
Summary
The council approved an amendment to emergency medical services (EMS) billing rates that raises resident base rates by roughly 20% and nonresident rates by about 30%. Officials said the change brings West Bend closer to peer averages and aims to reduce subsidy pressure on taxpayers.
The Common Council on Dec. 16 approved a resolution to raise ambulance billing rates for West Bend Fire Rescue. City staff said the change raises resident rates by about 20% and keeps nonresident fees about 30% higher than resident charges.
Fire Chief Jay Noren presented background and a comparative review of other departments. He said the McMahon operational review found West Bend’s ambulance rates low, and the department expanded its comparables this year to more closely match systems with similar operations. “The proposed new rates represent a rate increase for residents of about 20%, and it maintains a 30% increase over that for nonresident patients,” Noren said.
Noren described the department’s reluctance to pursue interfacility transports as a primary service goal because such calls can remove units from city coverage for prolonged periods. As a result, the council-approved schedule sets higher fees for interfacility transports to discourage routine use without dedicated staffing.
Council members asked for clarifications. An alderman asked the chief to explain BLS and ALS levels; Noren defined BLS as basic life support and ALS as paramedic‑level responses, with ALS II reserved for major emergencies. Alderman Allen asked how the city determines resident vs. nonresident billing; Noren said billing is based on the patient’s residence information collected for billing and that contracted jurisdictions are billed at resident rates per existing agreements.
Noren said West Bend conducted a review this year after an initial adjustment last year; the 2024 proposal builds on that work. He noted the ambulance billing business is loss‑prone and that municipal taxpayers subsidize readiness; adjusting rates brings revenues closer to costs while still recognizing caps on Medicare/Medicaid reimbursements.
The motion to approve the amended EMS rate schedule passed by voice vote.
