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Committee advances changes to ambulance franchise rules, including rate formula and vehicle-life extension
Summary
The recommending committee approved amendments to LVMC Chapter 6.08 that update allowable ambulance service rates, tie future increases to the CPI for medical care services with a 3%–5% floor/ceiling, and permit extending ambulance service life to 500,000 miles under specified conditions; the item will go to City Council May 7, 2025.
The recommending committee voted to advance amendments to Las Vegas Municipal Code (LVMC) Chapter 6.08 governing ambulance franchises. The ordinance updates maximum service rates, changes the method for calculating annual rate increases, revises compliance and penalty provisions, and allows ambulance vehicles to remain in service longer under certain conditions.
Gina Bishop, franchise officer in the Office of Strategic Services, said the business impact statement was prepared in accordance with the state statute cited in the transcript and was signed by the city manager and approved at the April 16, 2025, City Council meeting. Bishop told the committee that the bill “creates a different method for calculating increases in the future to ambulance rates and liquidated damages by establishing an annual percentage increase, which follows the CPI medical care services. But if that CPI index goes below 3% or over 5, the ceiling is 5 and the floor is 3%.”
Bishop also described a change to vehicle-service-life limits: “The life of an ambulance service vehicle could be extended to 500,000 miles if a new engine and transmission have been installed before the 300,000 miles has been reached,” she said, and noted that “based on the last reports turned into the city, we have about a dozen units that are approaching that 300,000 mile mark.”
Kirk Schmidt, regional director for American Medical Response (AMR) in Southern Nevada, said AMR did not request the 500,000-mile provision and has been able to comply with the current 300,000-mile replacement standard. “It’s not that we're opposed to the 500,000 mile,” Schmidt said. “We just wanted to make it clear that that was not a condition that we felt was necessary within the ordinance, because we have no difficulty with the 300,000 mile limit.”
Bishop said staff recommended approval. A member of the committee moved to approve the bill (recorded in the transcript as “Move to approve Bill number 2025-5”), the committee voted, and the chair stated, “Please vote and post. And that item passes.” The transcript notes Bill 2025-5 will be scheduled for hearing before the City Council on May 7, 2025.
Transcript discussion also referenced that the penalties provision was a matter of prior concern listed in the business impact statement and that the city and franchisees had engaged in months of dialogue over the ordinance provisions. The amendment does not, in the committee hearing, include a roll-call vote tally in the transcript.
