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Council approves private ambulance rate increase; DOT to review special charges
Summary
The City Council approved an increase in private ambulance base rates and asked staff to review special add-on charges and federal Medicare compliance before additional changes are implemented.
The council approved a staff-recommended increase in private non-emergency ambulance rates after a presentation from the Department of Transportation and the Transportation Commission.
Bob Camus of the Department of Transportation said the increase had unanimous support from the Transportation Commission and the council committee and noted the committee attached an amendment to exempt certain lifeline and Medicare customers from a 20 percent co-payment. Camus said staff and industry representatives will seek guidance from the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services before implementing an exemption that could raise legal issues under federal Medicare law.
Nut graf: Council members emphasized quality of service and regular indexing of rates to avoid long gaps between adjustments. The Transportation Committee asked staff to review special charges (mileage, night service, waiting time, oxygen, etc.) and report back; the council did not approve additional add-on charges at this meeting.
Committee chair and council members stressed that the goal is to maintain service quality: "You get what you pay for," a committee member said, and the committee favored indexing rates to the Consumer Price Index so the city would not fall behind in provider reimbursements.
The council recorded a roll call vote approving the rate increase (item 34) by 13 ayes. Staff and the commission will return with a report on special charges and the Medicare/co-payment legal review prior to implementing any further adjustments.
Ending: The Transportation Department and commission will report back with recommendations on special charges and any federal approvals needed before exemptions for lifeline or Medicare beneficiaries are enacted.
