Iowa County Supervisors raise ambulance rates

MARENGO — Iowa County Supervisors voted this month to increase ambulance fees.

Rates have not increased in four years, said Emergency Medical Director Adam Rabe.

Rabe asked the county to increase the price of having an ambulance on site during an event from $100 to $125. The cost wouldn’t affect major events in the county.

“We don’t charge for the fair,” said Rabe.

Emergency Medical also doesn’t bill for being on site for high school football games, Oktoberfest Saturday in Amana, July 3 and 4 events in Marengo, the annual tractor pull or the triathlon, he said.

The county doesn’t charge for many events, but it shouldn’t lose money on those events, said Rabe.

The price to have a paramedic on scene will go up from $30 to $50. Rabe said the county usually has to pay overtime to provide a paramedic. That amounts to about $47.

People with insurance probably won’t feel the increases, said Rabe. Insurance will pay only a certain amount.

People without insurance will feel it more, but those are only about 10% of ambulance calls, Rabe said. Most patients who request an ambulance are on Medicare.

The cost of everything is going up, said Supervisor Abigail Maas. Right now the taxpayers are paying the difference between how much Emergency Medical is paid and how much it pays out to provide services.

“Nothing is increasing dramatically,” said Maas, looking over the recommendations provided by Rabe.

Rabe said he tried to keep the increases low.

An increase in mileage from $15 to $16 will have the largest impact on private payers, said Rabe. Medicare requires that patients go to the nearest hospital. If patients request another hospital, they have to pay for the additional mileage.

Advanced live support, emergency and specialized services will increase from $735 to $809, and basic life support emergency will increase from $620 to $682.

Both are 10% increases.

Treating with no transport will remain at $125. Basic assist will raise from $100 to $110, advanced assist from $150-165 and funeral home body transports will raise from $200 to $220.

Increases will go into effect July 1.