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Pella Council approves lower ambulance charge schedule, adds $150 non-resident fee
Summary
The Pella City Council voted 6–0 to adopt a revised ambulance fee schedule that lowers listed transport charges to align with Blue Cross Blue Shield reimbursements and adds a $150 non-resident fee for services outside city limits.
The Pella City Council approved Resolution No. 7071 on May 19, adopting a revised fee schedule for Pella Community Ambulance to align listed charges with Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) reimbursements and to add a $150 non-resident fee for patients living outside city limits. The measure passed on a 6–0 roll call vote after staff presented recommended rates.
City Administrator Mike Nardini and the Pella Ambulance Chief provided the recommendation in response to billing write-offs that occur when in-network reimbursement rates are lower than the city’s listed charges. Councilmember Lynn Branderhorst moved to adopt the resolution; Harold Van Stryland seconded the motion.
Under the new schedule, several listed transport rates were reduced; examples noted in the staff report include Basic Life Support (BLS) from $650 to $387, BLS emergent from $750 to $620, Advanced Life Support (ALS) from $900 to $465, and per-mile from $29 to $14. The resolution also establishes a $150 non-resident fee to partially offset costs of serving patients who live outside Pella city limits.
According to staff, the adjusted rates are intended to reduce the volume of write-offs by better matching the city’s charges with insurer reimbursement levels for in-network providers. The action was placed on the council agenda after a Policy and Planning discussion earlier in May directed staff to pursue formal consideration.
Council did not amend the resolution; the change takes effect as provided in the approved resolution. The city did not receive public comment on this item during the meeting.
