Council votes to consider MASA emergency-transport membership; start pushed to Nov. 1

Rodney Dryden, a consultant with HUB International, and Will Winters of MASA described a municipal option to enroll households in a membership that supplements ambulance and air-ambulance bills and that would be offered to Bowie customers on an opt-out basis.

"This program is available in all 50 states and Canada," Dryden said, explaining the model the company uses to enroll residents through utility billing. Winters told the council the plan could pay up to $1,000 toward ground-ambulance out-of-pocket costs and up to $10,000 for air transport, and that it adds a $200 treatment-transport benefit payable twice per 12 months.

Councilors pressed the presenters on practical details. Winters said residents would have a 30-day opt-out window after the program’s effective date and that the company would handle claims outreach and provider coordination. On Medicare and Medicaid, Winters said Medicaid recipients "should not have a bill, generally speaking," and that Medicare plan design can affect any remaining out-of-pocket responsibility; MASA staff said they would work with providers and pay up to the benefit limits described.

Several council members asked whether the program constitutes selling on a utility bill and whether the city would bear administrative costs. One councilor said, "to a lot of residents of this town, you're selling something," and Winters and Dryden responded that the enrollment is opt-out, that the company will provide materials and customer support, and that MASA does not require the city to front any money.

After discussion and requests for town-hall-style outreach, the council voted 3–2 to authorize consideration and staff follow-up on implementing MASA as presented and to direct outreach to residents; members also agreed informally to target a start date of Nov. 1 to allow time for education and the opt-out window.

The motion to move forward was made and seconded during the meeting; proponents emphasized local collection and potential revenue to improve EMS collections, while opponents urged more public engagement before enrollment. The council did not adopt an ordinance at the meeting; it approved only a motion to proceed with study and public information steps.