ANAHEIM : Fire Dept. Considers Ambulance Proposal
In a move that could generate substantial revenue, the Fire Department may join a growing number of fire departments in providing ambulance service.
The Fire Department may propose to take over ambulance service contracts held by Southland LifeFleet Inc. of Newport Beach, say city fire officials. City officials have labeled such moves as “reverse privatization.”
But officials of the ambulance service said they will oppose the move.
They say Fire Department predictions about high revenue are unrealistic.
Ambulance companies like LifeFleet write off as much as 40% of their business because users are unable to pay for the service, said Jane Duffy, LifeFleet’s general manager.
“Cities really need to look at that figure and see if they could collect that amount. Collection is very costly,” Duffy said.
LifeFleet has provided ambulance service to Anaheim for more than 30 years. Its their recent annual net revenue ranged between $1.4 million and $1.6 million.
If the city considers a Fire Department ambulance proposal, it should have a study to detail the potential costs to taxpayers, said Duffy.
According to studies in other cities, fire departments can add several hundred thousand dollars in revenue by assuming ambulance services.
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