West Covina approves ambulance-billing contract with Whitman Enterprises

The West Covina City Council voted 5-0 on July 1 to approve a professional services agreement with Whitman Enterprises LLC for ambulance billing services.

The contract, presented by staff and the fire department, updates the city’s billing arrangement and reduces the company’s collection fee from 3.9% to 3.75%, a change staff said will modestly increase net revenue from ambulance transports. Acting Fire Chief Brown told the council Whitman has provided ambulance-billing services to the city since 2005.

The vote followed brief questions from council members about whether additional city-owned ambulances would be covered by the agreement. Acting Chief Brown said ambulances added to the city’s fleet would be incorporated under the same billing arrangement. The acting city manager and city attorney also confirmed the council could seek contract amendments later if the city grows its ambulance program.

Council member Jen Gutierrez moved approval; Councilwoman Diaz seconded. The vote was Cantos — yes; Diaz — yes; Gutierrez — yes; Mayor Pro Tem Lopez Viado — yes; Mayor Wu — yes.

City staff said the contract is intended to make the city’s ambulance billing more efficient while preserving flexibility to expand local ambulance operations and renegotiate billing terms if call volume increases. The council did not set an effective date during the meeting; staff will return final contract documents for the city clerk’s file and implementation by the finance and fire departments.

The city manager said staff will bring back any future proposed amendments to adjust collection rates if the city’s transport volume or ambulance staffing changes.