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County staff to draft resolution updating ambulance billing to current Medicare rates; board gives consensus
Summary
County EMS staff told commissioners the county has not updated ambulance Medicare rates since 2018 and adopting current rates would raise annual revenue by an estimated $424,000; the board asked the county attorney to prepare a resolution for a future meeting so the county can stay current annually.
Suwannee County EMS staff told the Board of County Commissioners on March 4 that the county's ambulance charges have not been updated to match Medicare rates since 2018 and that adopting the most recent Medicare payment schedule would significantly increase annual reimbursement.
EMS officials said adopting the updated rates used by Medicare and followed by many insurers would add an estimated $424,000 in revenue based on 2024 activity. The EMS billing vendor had asked whether the county intended to adopt the new rates.
Commissioners and staff discussed whether the board could authorize an annual automated update rather than voting every year. County Attorney Adam Morrison recommended preparing a resolution for board action at the next meeting; commissioners gave general consensus to allow staff and the chairman to proceed with drafting a resolution to adopt current Medicare rates and to consider a mechanism for staying current year‑to‑year.
Staff said many public and private payers follow Medicare rates and that Suwannee County had effectively been billing at 2018 levels, leaving revenues on the table. No interim rate change was implemented at the March 4 meeting; the county attorney will draft a resolution for formal board consideration at a future meeting.
Ending
The board instructed the county attorney to prepare a resolution for the next meeting that would update the county's ambulance billing rates to current published Medicare rates and include language to keep rates current going forward, pending the board's review and approval.
