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Board adopts ambulance fee increases tied to regional EMS rate-setting; directors urge hospital talks
Summary
The board adopted a resolution to adjust ambulance transport and service fees to conform with the county emergency medical authority’s new rates effective July 1, 2026, and several directors urged staff to press the hospital for reimbursement negotiations.
The Big Bear Fire Authority on June 9 adopted a resolution to increase ambulance transport and service fees in line with the county emergency medical authority’s rate recommendations, effective July 1, 2026.
A staff presenter summarized the change and the legal framework: the authority relies on the county EMS rate-setting policy (referred to in the record as "Isomont"/ISO) and has adopted the administrative mechanism to implement annual rate adjustments by resolution. The presenter said the increases are intended to reflect higher costs for advanced and basic life support transport and related add-on charges and that the net effect on revenue will depend on payer mix and deductions.
Several directors asked whether the hospital could be asked to bear more of transport costs. One director said that the hospital’s reluctance to pay for transports shifts costs to the authority and the public and offered to participate in negotiations. The board approved the resolution by roll-call vote after a brief discussion; staff recommended and the board accepted an amendment to include a board member in outreach to hospital leadership.
The resolution aligns the authority’s fees with the regional EMS authority’s recommendations; staff noted the change was the third consecutive year that rates were adopted by resolution under the authority’s ordinance permitting that process.
