Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ems Billing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Candia board raises ambulance rates to align with new state law
Summary
The Candia Select Board voted Nov. 10 to raise ambulance transport fees after a new state law requires insurers to pay up to 325% of Medicare or a locally set rate; the board approved new BLS and ALS rates and a mileage fee. The change is intended to improve ambulance revenue and prevent balance billing of patients.
The Candia Select Board voted Nov. 10 to raise the town's ambulance transport charges to match a new state requirement intended to protect patients and ensure payment to ambulance services.
Mike (last name not provided), who presented the memo and recommendation to the board, said a new state law (New Hampshire Senate Bill 245) taking effect Jan. 1 requires insurers to pay the ambulance service directly and allows reimbursement up to 325% of the Medicare rate or the locally adopted rate, whichever is less. "Starting January 1, there's a New Hampshire senate bill 245...requires the insurance company to pay directly to the ambulance service, 325% of the Medicare rate or whatever the local governing board decides," he told the board.
The board adopted the fee schedule recommended by Mike. The motion, made by Selectman Steph Boyd and seconded, set the following standard charges: basic life support emergency (BLS) $1,400; advanced life support level 1 (ALS 1) $1,750; advanced life support level 2 (ALS 2) $2,500; mileage $30 per mile. The motion passed on an oral vote.
Why it matters: Board members and the ambulance billing vendor said the increase is intended to increase collections and prevent patients from receiving balance bills. Mike said the town currently collects roughly 40% of billed transport charges and that the change should raise next year's ambulance revenue substantially. He added the board will reassess rates every year in line with Medicare adjustments.
Board context and next steps: During the discussion, members compared the proposed rates with those of neighboring towns and private ambulance services. The board assigned follow-up tasks to the billing vendor and town staff to update billing systems and to notify insurers and the public about the new rates before Jan. 1.
The board recorded the motion and approved the rates at the meeting; no individual dissenting vote was called on the record.
