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Douglas County considers $100 fee for non-transport EMS calls; board also presented new medical director contract
Summary
County staff proposed a $100 emergency response fee for assessed-and-treated, non-transport EMS patients to recover consumables and pharmaceuticals; staff said the fee would be billed by the county's billing contractor and Medicaid may reimburse some codes. Separately, the board reviewed a $104,400 annual contract for a new medical director.
Douglas County staff presented a proposal on March 16 to impose a $100 response fee for patients who are assessed and treated by EMS but not transported to a hospital. Chief Allen and a deputy chief said the fee is intended as partial cost recovery for consumables and pharmaceuticals used during on-scene care.
"Luton, which is routinely given with a non transport, is $250. Cardiac arrest, we average about $500 in consumables," the deputy chief said when commissioners asked for examples of treatment costs. The county’s proposed $100 fee, the deputy chief said, is "a little bit of cost recovery, but it's certainly not everything."
Commissioners probed whether the charge would discourage patients from calling 911 or accepting care; staff said the county’s MIH (Mobile Integrated Health) program aims to reduce unnecessary transports and that the fee would not be charged for lift assists or other basic non‑billable services. The county plans to bill through its EMS billing company (EMSMC) and noted that some Medicaid reimbursement exists for the applicable ICD‑10 code (0998) though many commercial insurers have not yet adopted consistent coverage for such codes.
Separately, staff presented an annual medical director agreement with Dr. Brett Cannon at $104,400 to be funded from the fire department budget; the transcript shows the item was presented with no board questions recorded.
Next steps: The work session included discussion but did not record a final vote on the fee. The fee proposal and the medical director contract were presented for the board’s consideration and signature pending final legal review.
