Pittsburgh EMS Fees May Jump 40%

June 25--A bill introduced before Pittsburgh City Council today would hike ambulance fees for patients or their insurance companies upwards of 40% in addition to creating new fees for certain medical procedures and equipment.

The fee hike primarily would impact non-residents, who are expected to cover the fees regardless of whether they have insurance to pay them. For Pittsburgh residents, the city accepts whatever their insurance pays and they do not have to pay the difference.

Uninsured residents do not have to pay.

Mark Bocian, acting chief of Emergency Medical Services, said he believes the fee increases are long overdue as Pittsburgh charges far less than surrounding communities.

"We haven't touched our fees or raised our fees since 2004," he said. "We were way behind [what other] communities charge the insurance companies."

For Pittsburgh residents, the city bills insurance companies, Medicaid or Medicare for ambulance fees, though Chief Bocian said they pay far less than what they're billed. Uninsured Pittsburgh residents are not billed.

But non-residents who are treated by EMS are billed directly and are expected to pay the full amount whether they're insured or not. If their insurance company only covers a part of the bill, they are expected to pay the remainder.

Under the legislation, the base charge for basic life support would go form $500 to $700. The fees for advanced life support also would increase by $200 from $650 to $850 for level one advanced life support and $700 to $900 for level two.

EMS also would begin billing for the use of oxygen ($60), EKG monitors ($100), nitrous oxide ($60) and cervical collars ($40), among other things.

Chief Bocian said EMS brings in enough revenue to support about three-quarters of its budget. He said he did not know how much additional revenue the fees would bring in.

Moriah Balingit: mbalingit@post-gazette.com, 412-263-2533 or on Twitter @MoriahBee.

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