Ambulance Companies Seek Increase in Fees
Ventura County’s three ambulance companies will ask the Board of Supervisors today to approve a fee hike that would increase the firms’ revenues by 13%.
Gold Coast, Ojai and Pruner ambulance companies are seeking to increase their per-trip rate for emergency transportation from $256 to $296.75, and non-emergency transportation from $193 to $240.
The charge per mile from the scene to the hospital would increase from $9.90 to $10.75, and the fee for oxygen would jump from $30 to $45.
The private ambulance companies are regulated by the county, and rate increases are subject to approval by county officials.
Most of the added revenues would be used to pay for salaries, equipment upgrades and health and liability insurance, county Health Care Agency Director Phillipp Wessels said.
The board last approved an increase for the companies in December, 1990, when fees rose 10%.
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