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Council approves ordinance to bill $250 lift-assist fee to third-party facilities
Summary
Ordinance codifies a $250 third-party 'lift assist' fee to be billed to licensed health-care facilities when no medical necessity exists, intended to recover non-reimbursable costs and preserve emergency readiness; council emphasized it should not deter 911 calls by private citizens.
Two Rivers adopted an ordinance on April 6 formalizing billing of third-party licensed health-care facilities $250 for non-emergency, non-injury "lift assist" responses by the fire department when no medical necessity or transport is required.
Staff said the municipality has experienced a rise in non-injury EMS calls — over 330 fall-related responses in 2025 — that can strain emergency readiness and impose unreimbursed costs. The ordinance codifies the current practice of billing facilities that have trained staff and available equipment, placing responsibility on the facility rather than on taxpayers.
Fire leadership and council stressed the policy is not intended to deter private citizens from calling 911 for true emergencies. Council said a fee had existed informally and this ordinance clarifies authority to send the bill to facilities. The ordinance passed on unanimous roll-call vote.
