To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Public Health
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Request to Increase Ambulance Fees for Service Area 1 (Northwestern Humboldt County)
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve and authorize an increase in billing rates for ambulance services provided in Service Area 1 (Northwestern Humboldt County).
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Private Revenues
DISCUSSION:
County Code Title V - Health and Safety Division 5, Emergency Medical Services System, Section 551-6 Ambulance Service Rates requires that all rates of the schedule shall remain effective until any rate changes are amended or approved by the Board of Supervisors.
On March 23, 2019, Arcata-Mad River Ambulance, Inc. contacted the Humboldt County Health Officer requesting a rate adjustment to its current fee schedule for Service Area 1, which covers the northwestern portion of Humboldt County as defined in the Humboldt County Health and Safety Code, Title V, Emergency Medical Services System, Standards of Ambulance Equipment and Operations, Section 551-9 (c). The last request for a rate adjustment for this service area was approved by your Board on September 13, 2016 (Item C-8).
Arcata-Mad River Ambulance, Inc. is requesting the increase with the intention of offsetting significant increases in employee wages and declines in revenue related to call volume.
Under new company ownership starting in 2017, the daily pay structure was changed, resulting in increased payroll costs by approximately 26%. Annual cost of living adjustments of 3% a year further increased payroll and related expenses by $35,000. In addition, as state minimum wage increases, pay scales need to be adjusted to ensure competitive wages.
Arcata-Mad River Ambulance, Inc. does not receive subsidies for providing emergency and non-emergency ambulance service. Since 2012, the percentage of patients covered by commercial insurance has declined from 17...
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