Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ems topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board adopts volume‑based EMS dispatch fee; MedStar granted three‑year phase‑in
Summary
After meet‑and‑confer sessions with providers, Health Services recommended replacing the flat EMS dispatch fee with a volume‑based, multi‑tiered schedule (with a 30% attrition safeguard) and a three‑year glide path for MedStar; the Board approved the modified schedule unanimously.
Mendocino County moved from a flat EMS dispatch assessment to a volume‑based, tiered fee structure on a unanimous vote Tuesday after Health Services staff and ambulance providers negotiated a revised schedule.
Tammy Bartleme, EMS program manager, said staff used Cal Fire dispatch data and applied a 30% attrition reduction to better reflect uncompensated responses and cancellations; the change reduces tier placement for some providers and includes a three‑year transition (glide path) for providers who need time to reach full cost recovery. Bartleme said Adventist Health agreed to the structure without needing the glide path.
Under the modified action board members adopted, MedStar will move to a Tier 3 fee over three years, rather than immediately, to reduce financial strain and preserve viability while improving cost recovery and regional emergency network stability.
Supervisor Williams moved the modified recommendation to phase in MedStar over three years; the motion passed unanimously. Health Services will adopt the fee schedule and monitor impacts and viability of providers as the glide path progresses.
What happens next: Health Services will post the revised fee schedule and implement the tiered billing; staff committed to continuing to meet with providers about operational impacts and to report back as part of annual budget review and EMS oversight.
