Wheaton City Council will most likely hike ambulance fees
A ride to the hospital will soon cost Wheaton residents a little bit more. although officials hope it’s the insurance companies that pay the tab. Under a proposal considered by the Wheaton City Council Monday, all fees related to paramedic services would increase and officials say the hikes would align the city more closely to surrounding communities.
“It’s to keep up with costs,” city Manager Don Rose said.
Since its inception in 1986, officials have aimed for user fees to pay for half of its city-funded ambulance program. For the most part, that goal has been achieved and in fiscal year 2010-2011, that number reached nearly 56 percent.
The new rates would also bring Wheaton’s charges closer to the allowable reimbursement from Medicare, according to a report provided Monday.
Ambulance fees are broken down into three tiers and all three would be increased. Paramedic support that did not require an ambulance would remain at $75.
Basic life support would increase from $375 to $444. Advanced life support, level 1 would jump from $425 to $527.
The highest level of support, Advanced level 2, would jump more than $130 to $763.
Additionally, the mileage rate would increase from $6.25 to $10.
According to a chart presented to the council, the new rates for residents are still lower than surrounding communities by at least $100 in each tier. Non-residents fees will also increase, although those new rates will be much more in line with averages of surrounding towns, with the most expensive tier costing $1,000, an increase from $825.
The council will most likely approve the new fee schedule in two weeks, Rose said.
The city last raised its rates in 2008 and officials say each year the city ends up collecting about 70 percent of the fees they assess. If the rate remains in that range, the city could take in as much as $168,000 more in revenue from the fees, officials estimate.
“That’s money we have been leaving on the table,” councilman John Rutledge said.