Thornton seeks higher ambulance fees, but gradually

BY LUKE ZARZECKI LZARZECKI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

ornton could begin to gradually raise ambulance fees based on a Cityn Council discussion at the May 16 planning session.

Interim Fire Chief Stephan Kelley asked the council to approve increased rates the city charges for emergency response and transport in a city ambulance. Kelley said the last time rates were raised was in 2008. Compared to Westminster and North Metro, rates in ornton are cheaper. ornton currently charges $810 for all emergency transport services.

e new plan would charge a fee based on different levels of life support needed during ambulance transport. e most basic level would charge insurance $987. e rates for more advanced levels of life support – ASL1 and ASL2 –would be set at $1,164 and $1,287, respectively.

e increased fees would impact those with private insurance. Medicare and e department costs $7.6 million for ve medic units, administrative sta , supplies and services. Some of that is subsidized by the transport fees. e fees brought in $4.3 million in 2021, with $2.7 million coming from the fees and the rest from Medicaid supplemental pay. ere are about 46 personnel in the department.

Medicaid have set rates for ambulance fees, and Kelley said the change would a ect about 17% of users.

Kelly also said that if a patient is transported to a hospital and the hospital says they demonstrate nancial hardship, the same steps will be followed for their ambulance bill. at may be anything between a 50% to 100% reduction in the bill. at happened 23 times in 2022.

Phasing fees considered City Councilor David Acunto asked if a phase-in approach would be possible and if there can be a mechanism to raise the rates accordingly each year.

“I don’t want to get into a situation where if we kick it down the line and now it’s 2030 and some services are degrading (and then need to raise rates substantially,)” Acunto said.

City Councilor Julia Marvin said she wouldn’t be supporting the increase in fees, citing high deductibles for many families.

City Councilor Adam Matkowsky noted that the base rate is high, even if someone that has a minor injury is served.

“Whether they go 50 miles or 10 miles, they’re getting hit over the head (with the fee,)” he said.

Kelley said the practice of a base rate is true in a lot of healthcare situations, and it’s a conversation for the broader healthcare system.

City Councilor Tony Unrein asked if unpaid bills are sent to collections. Kelley said they work with patients with nancial hardship but said a portion of the bills are sent to collections.

Unrein also asked if someone is treated on-site but isn’t transported if they are charged. Kelley said if someone is treated but does not ride in the ambulance, they receive a treatment and release fee.