Stow City raises ambulance transport fees; officials say residents won’t see direct bills

Stow City Council adopted an ordinance raising emergency medical-service transport fees, increasing basic life-support (BLS) and advanced life-support (ALS) rates to align with neighboring departments. The fire department and the administration said the change updates fees that have lagged behind area agencies and that billing practices are “soft billing” — the city bills insurers for transports and accepts insurer payment; residents who are insured and who live in Stow generally are not billed directly.

Under the new schedule presented to council, BLS transport will be set at $850, ALS at $1,000 and ALS 2 (multiple drug administration) at $1,200; mileage for transports will be $16 per mile. Fire Department staff said those numbers mirror rates used by several Summit County fire departments. The department also said the city applies a hardship review for nonresident patients who cannot pay.

Fire Chief Stone outlined the rationale: replacement ambulances and medical equipment cost substantially more than in earlier years, and the department’s transport fees had not kept pace despite a 2% annual escalation included in a prior ordinance. Chief Stone said transport revenue is earmarked for EMS equipment, ambulances and paramedic staffing rather than for general fund spending.

Council members pressed for details about the impact on insurance and on residents. Staff responded that the city accepts whatever insurers pay and that many insurers negotiate lower, “reasonable and customary” payments; Medicare and Medicaid reimburse at much lower rates. Staff and council emphasized the hardship clause that allows some patients to seek fee forgiveness.

During debate several council members said they supported the adjustment to reflect regional practice and rising costs; a minority of members said they were reluctant because a recently passed levy already funds EMS and because higher billing rates may indirectly affect insurance costs. The ordinance passed on a council roll-call vote (record in the council file). The final recorded vote was four in favor and two opposed. The ordinance takes effect as stated in the council resolution and will be implemented through the city’s billing vendor and EMS billing supervisor.

Speakers in the record included the Fire Chief (Chief Stone), an EMS billing supervisor and multiple council members; the ordinance was forwarded from the Roads & Safety committee and adopted at the council meeting.