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Contra Costa County fire board approves 5.71% ambulance rate increase effective May 1
Summary
The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Board voted 5-0 to adopt Ordinance 2025-05, raising district emergency ambulance fees by 5.71% under a contract formula. Staff said the district’s subcontractor costs account for more than 80% of system expenses and described an existing program to forgive bills for low-income patients.
The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Board of Directors voted 5-0 to adopt Ordinance 2025-05, which raises the district’s emergency ambulance service rates effective May 1, 2025.
The ordinance implements an annual, contract-driven formula for rate changes. “This year the annual rate increase was calculated to be 5.71% and this was approved by the county EMS agency as the contract administrator,” Chief Richard told the board during the hearing.
Why it matters: The district’s ambulance system is largely funded by fees billed to patients and to payers; the largest single cost driver is the contractual payment to the district’s subcontractor, American Medical Response (AMR). Chief Richard told the board payments to AMR account for over 80% of the system’s annual costs.
Key details and scope - The contract between the county and the district ties annual rate changes to a…
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