File #: 22-1096    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Informational Report Status: Passed
File created: 8/12/2022 In control: DHHS: Public Health
On agenda: 8/30/2022 Final action: 8/30/2022
Title: Request to Increase Ambulance Fees for Service Area 1 (Northwestern Humboldt County)
Attachments: 1. Staff Report, 2. Arcata-Mad River Ambulance, LLC’s rate increase request, with current and proposed ambulance rate schedules, dated May 10, 2022.
Previous Action/Referral: 19-828

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 May 10, 2022, Arcata-Mad River Ambulance, LLC contacted Humboldt County Public Health requesting a rate adjustment to their current fee schedule for Service Area 1, which covers the northwestern portion of Humboldt County as defined in the County's 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 that was approved by your Board was approved on June 25, 2019. In November 2021, Arcata Mad River Ambulance submitted a rate increase request to Public Health but were unsuccessful in getting the request through the rate increase review process, which included review by the County Auditor-Controller's Office after initial review by the County Health Officer. In June 2022, Public Health updated the internal policy and procedure to require reviews by the Humboldt County Health Officer and Public Health Fiscal.

Arcata-Mad River Ambulance, LLC is requesting the increase with the intention of offsetting significant increases in employee wages in the face of outside competition and to cover other increased costs including fuel and supplies. Arcata-Mad River Ambulance, LLC. does not receive tax subsidies for providing e...

Click here for full text