To: Board of Directors
From: Lewis Broschard, Chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
Report Title: Emergency Ambulance Service Fees effective May 9, 2024
?Recommendation of the County Administrator ? Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
A. OPEN the public hearing on Ordinance No. 2024-10, an ordinance authorizing the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District to increase its emergency ambulance service fees effective May 9, 2024.
B. RECEIVE testimony and CLOSE the public hearing.
C. ADOPT Ordinance No. 2024-10.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This Ordinance will allow the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District to recover the increased costs associated with the provision of emergency ambulance services in Emergency Response Areas (ERAs) 1, 2, and 5 within Contra Costa County beginning May 9, 2024.
BACKGROUND:
The Emergency Ambulance Services contract between Contra Costa County and the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District ("District") establishes the rates the District is authorized to charge for providing emergency ambulance services (the "Ambulance Contract").
The District currently charges Emergency Ambulance Services patients the following amounts: Emergency Ambulance Response Base Rate of $2,868.68; a Mileage Rate of $69.34 for each mile traveled with a loaded patient; an Oxygen Administration Charge of $240.46; and $615.12 for Treat and Refused Transport. The District is not authorized to charge more or less than the rates specified in the Ambulance Contract. The current rates became effective May 1, 2023.
Ambulance system costs include, but are not limited to, payments to the District's subcontractor American Medical Response West ("AMR"), billing service provider payments, acquisition of ambulance vehicles and equipment, dispatcher wages and benefits, administrative wages and benefits, system software and hardware upgrades, consulting fees, banking fees, and other costs. The largest cost driver in the ambulance system is...
Click here for full text