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Fire‑rescue committee recommends higher EMS billing rates; board seeks comparison data
Summary
The county’s fire and rescue committee recommended increases to EMS billing rates and mileage. Staff presented the proposed FY‑26 schedule; supervisors requested comparative data from surrounding localities before formal adoption.
Chris Key presented recommended EMS billing rate revisions that the county’s Fire‑Rescue Association and commission reviewed for FY‑26. The committee recommended raising basic life support (BLS) and advanced life support (ALS) fees and mileage to better align with regional costs and recovery needs.
Key said the recommendations (committee and commission approved) include: BLS non‑emergent from $600 to $700; BLS emergent from $650 to $750; ALS‑1 non‑emergent from $775 to $875; ALS‑1 emergent from $800 to $900; ALS‑2 from $1,000 to $1,100; treat‑and‑transport from $400 to $500; patient refusal remained at $100; and mileage increased from $18 per mile to $21 per mile.
Board members asked whether insurance typically covers these charges. Key explained Medicare and Medicaid pay established rates regardless of billed charges, commercial insurers often pay a percentage and soft billing is used to recover balances; unpaid accounts can be written off depending on payer rules and collection results. Supervisors also asked about the effect of rate increases on drug box replenishment and other supply costs; Key said higher billing rates could help cost recovery but explained that billing is not itemized for specific drugs and recovery depends on the severity and coding of the call.
Supervisors said they want to review comparative rate tables from neighboring counties and the EMS billing company’s recommendations before taking a formal vote at a future meeting. No formal board vote on rate adoption was recorded at the work session.
