Budget committee approves 5.4% EMS transport rate increase to fund a staffed 12‑hour ambulance

The Anderson County Budget Committee on July 9 approved a 5.4% increase to EMS transport rates and agreed to use the additional revenue to fund a newly staffed 12‑hour advanced life support ambulance.

The EMS director told the committee the new unit would require about $271,000 in annual personnel costs and that expected increases in transport revenue — including a one‑time bump from matching Medicare adjustments and additional transports — would produce roughly $125,000–$140,000 in added revenue. "We're short $6,000 to staff this ambulance and put it online," the EMS director said, urging the committee to approve the rate change to avoid losing grant timelines and to improve countywide response coverage.

Committee members pressed for details about who would be affected and whether Medicare, Medicaid or uninsured patients would see higher bills. The EMS director said commercial insurers are the primary target of the rate change and that Medicare and Medicaid payments would not automatically rise; patients covered by Medicare would generally see no change in reimbursement. The director also said the county expects to staff the new unit out of Oak Ridge and that doing so would reduce strain on surrounding stations.

Separately, the committee approved an amended motion to allocate $16,000 from the county’s past opioid remediation funds to purchase EMS medical supplies after discussing the continued costs of maintaining supply quality. The original proposal asked for $10,000; a commissioner moved to add $6,000 and the amended motion carried.

The committee’s approval moves these budget decisions forward in the county process; most will be reflected in final budget documents and may require further action by the full county commission or by department procurement processes.