Board to Weigh Hike in Ambulance Fees
Ventura County supervisors will consider today raising the service fees charged by the county’s three private ambulance companies for the first time in three years.
The proposal before the board includes a two-phase increase that would occur over the next six months.
Under the first phase, the fee charged for an emergency transfer to the hospital would go from $296.75 to $327.50 beginning July 18. The fee would then increase to $352 Jan. 1.
By comparison, nonemergency transfers would go from $240 to $268 under the first phase, and to $290 under the second.
Other supplies and equipment fees charged patients would also be affected by the rate hikes. Bandages and dressings used by a patient would go from a charge of $13 to $14.25 under the two-phase program, while backboards and splints would increase from $23 to $25.25.
Barbara Brodfuehrer, administrator of the county’s Emergency Medical Services, said she typically receives about six to 10 calls a year from people complaining about the fees charged by the ambulance companies. But she said it is not bad considering how many patient transfers they make.
MedTrans Inc., Ojai Ambulance and Gold Coast Ambulance performed about 18,000 transfers last year, Brodfuehrer said.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
