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American Medical Response seeks 8% rate increase for Josephine County ambulance service; board did not act
Summary
American Medical Response told the Board of Commissioners it is requesting an 8% rate increase and a mileage adjustment to help recruit paramedics and offset personnel and inflationary costs; commissioners did not move to a vote at the meeting.
American Medical Response (AMR) representatives told the Josephine County Board of Commissioners they are seeking an 8% increase in ambulance rates and a mileage adjustment for services in the county.
Dave Matthews, identified as AMR’s operations manager, said the company is asking “for an 8% increase of our, rates, to help offset, the increased costs, of personnel and inflation,” and added the provider is seeking a mileage adjustment to help maintain and recruit paramedics in the area. Matthews said AMR’s current rates are the lowest in the surrounding area and that the company holds the county’s ambulance service area contract.
Commissioners asked procedural questions about competition and non-ambulance transport in the county. Matthews said AMR holds the emergency medical services service area contract that covers Josephine County and that other local companies provide non-ambulance transport such as ReadyRide and Meraki.
Commissioner Barnett used the discussion to highlight the publicly available Paramed subscription program as an example of local EMS-related consumer options and described it as a $55-per-household program: “Paramed is a great program. It offers every household regardless if you have insurance or not. For $55, it covers everybody in your household,” Barnett said.
The chair invited a motion to approve the proposed AMR rate increase later in the meeting, but no motion was made and no vote was recorded. The board moved on to other agenda items.
Next steps: No action was recorded at this meeting; AMR and county staff did not present an implemented ordinance or board order for a formal vote during the session.
