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How Wadsworth funds EMS: township credits, hard‑billing and rising levy questions
Summary
Safety Director Dan Chafin told the committee the city uses a hard‑billing EMS model managed by vendor LifeForce (7% fee), the township contract provides an 80% credit on collected township billing, and 2025 billings were about $1.6M with receipts just over $1M — all factors in upcoming levy negotiations.
Safety Director Dan Chafin briefed the committee on March 11 about the three primary income sources for Fire/EMS: EMS billing, township contract payments and levy revenue. He explained Wadsworth uses a hard‑billing model and partners with LifeForce for collections; LifeForce’s fee is 7% of funds collected.
Chafin provided examples of rates set by ordinance: city resident ALS II $565, ALS I $465, BLS $400 and mileage $14/mile; non‑resident rates are higher (for example ALS II $900). He noted Medicare/Medicaid reimbursements are typically lower (CMS example rates included ALS II $586, ALS I $405, BLS $341 and mileage $7.31), which can compress net receipts. Chafin said LifeForce billed roughly $1.6 million in 2025 and the city has received just over $1 million so far, with further receipts still possible.
On the township contract, Chafin described a base payment schedule that has risen from about $477,000 in 2022 to $537,000 in 2026; the contract also provides an 80% credit on any funds collected from township residents. Chafin said the City uses the Attorney General’s office as a backstop for persistent unpaid bills after LifeForce’s collection efforts.
Chafin emphasized these revenue streams and contractual terms will be central to any decision to add full‑time Fire/EMS personnel or to adjust levy millage. The committee asked for a consolidated financial summary to support levy planning.
