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Board adopts consent agenda including locally required ambulance rate schedule; commissioners explain membership protections
Summary
As part of the consent agenda the board approved a local ambulance/transport rate schedule required by state law, which county staff said enables proper Medicaid/Medicare billing and protects most residents from out-of-pocket charges if private-insurance users enroll in the providermembership plan.
The Curry County Board of Commissioners approved its consent agenda on Dec. 3, 2025, after county counsel and a commissioner explained a locally required ambulance/transport rate schedule that was included in the materials.
County counsel said the rate schedule was a requirement of recent state legislation and that without a local schedule the county's ambulance carrier would face reimbursement limits (in some cases limited to Medicare-plus percentages). Counsel stated Medicare-approved rates, in general, ‘‘are unacceptably low’’ for covering the cost of service and that a local published schedule enables appropriate Medicaid/Medicare and private-insurance billing.
Commissioner (speaker 2) explained to the public that the schedule was intended to protect the majority of residents (Medicaid/Medicare beneficiaries and those who enroll in the provider's membership program) from out-of-pocket charges, and that 10% of users relying on private insurance could face charges unless they sign up for the membership. The board referenced recent state legislation during the discussion (presented in the meeting as "House Bill 3243").
County officials said the rate schedule ranges from a base fee (examples cited in the meeting included a base in the low thousands up to about $5,000 for more extensive services, plus mileage charges) and that the membership or subscription option prevents surprise bills for many insured users. Officials described the local schedule as necessary to maintain financially viable ambulance coverage in Curry County and to avoid past problems the county experienced when services lost reimbursement capacity.
The consent agenda, including the rate-schedule item, passed 2-0 with Commissioner Trost recorded absent. The board did not change the published schedule during the meeting; staff provided an overview of the protections available for members and guidance on how private-insurance users could be billed.
