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Manassas Park council approves increase to ambulance billing fees
Summary
Council adopted a resolution to raise ambulance billing rates to match CMS-allowed regional amounts; the measure passed after council discussion about timing, hardship policies and estimated fiscal impact to the general fund.
The Manassas Park City Council voted to amend ambulance service fees to align with rates allowed by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, amending basic life support (BLS), advanced life support (ALS) levels and transport mileage.
Fire Chief Sober told the council that the current BLS rate of about $600 would rise to roughly $800, ALS level 1 from $700 to about $1,000, ALS level 2 from $800 to about $1,200, and mileage to about $12–$15. He said the increases reflect CMS regional allowances and help offset rising EMS equipment and medication costs; collections flow to the city—s general fund.
"We want you to continue to call 911 for help," Chief Sober said, stressing that the department uses "compassionate billing" and that remaining balances for city residents are typically written off. He said the office offers hardship assistance and that uninsured residents can apply for write-offs.
Council members asked whether rate changes would automatically adjust in future years; staff said any escalation would be handled administratively by the city manager or brought to consent agenda rather than automatically updating by ordinance. Council also heard an estimate that declining to adopt the change could reduce general-fund revenue by roughly $50,000–$75,000 annually based on current call volumes.
After discussion about timing and impacts, the governing body adopted the staff recommendation to amend service fees pursuant to city code 9-125. The motion carried with the chair announcing the motion carries (one member opposed and one abstention were noted verbally during the roll call). The chief said the effective date would be July 1 to allow the billing vendor time to implement rate changes.
What happens next: the fee schedule will be implemented for FY26 with an effective date near July 1; staff will manage the administrative update and the treasurer/billing vendor will implement new rates.
