Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Emergency Medical Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Alton schedules public hearing on proposed ambulance-billing procedure after robust discussion about collections and hardship review
Summary
The board set a public hearing for Jan. 27, 2026 at 6:02 p.m. on a draft ambulance-billing policy. The Fire Chief presented the draft, described hardship and write-off options, noted state caps on insurance payments, and board members requested legal review on collection practices and outreach before collections are pursued.
The Alton Town Board of Selectmen on Jan. 13 agreed to seek legal review and hold a public hearing on Jan. 27, 2026 at 6:02 p.m. for a proposed ambulance-billing procedure after an extended discussion about collections, hardship relief and recent state law changes.
The Fire Chief introduced the updated policy and walked the board through existing processes for uninsured or financially distressed patients, including a Hardship Committee that can reduce or wipe a bill based on income and household size. The chief told the board that under current practice “anybody that has an address here in the town of Alton does not get sent to collect” and that nonresidents are generally referred to collections per the policy.
Board members pressed on whether the town can treat residents and nonresidents differently, how and when a patient is contacted before being sent to collections, and whether staff or the billing contractor should make a personal outreach. The chief noted recent state legislation (Senate Bill 245, effective Jan. 1) that caps commercial-insurance billing at 3.25% of Medicare rates for balance-billing purposes, and said commercial insurers now pay at the capped state level.
The chief provided historical figures for unpaid accounts and said the ambulance revolving account remains healthy — reporting about $875,000 on hand and approximately $250,000 allocated this year to operations — but acknowledged years with significant write-offs. Several selectmen favored formal legal review of collection language and requested the draft be posted before the Jan. 27 hearing so the public can review redlined changes.
Why it matters: A formal ambulance-billing policy affects how residents and nonresidents are billed for emergency medical transports, how hardship applications are handled, and whether unpaid balances are pursued through collections, which can have consequences for residents’ credit and access to services.
What’s next: The board directed staff to post the draft policy and related documents, seek legal counsel and Department of Insurance input, and hold the public hearing Jan. 27 at 6:02 p.m.
