East Contra Costa fire district mulls $337 fee for medical aid
Jan. 05--BRENTWOOD -- Residents in far East Contra Costa County will pay hundreds more for in-home and roadside emergency medical care if the region's fire district board adopts a fee for that service next month.
East Contra Costa Fire District directors on Monday agreed to hold a public hearing Feb. 1 on a proposed ordinance that would establish a $337 fee for responding to urgent health complaints such as chest pains or dangerously low blood sugar levels.
"It's going to pique people's interest," said fire Chief Hugh Henderson, predicting a large meeting turnout the possibility of a fee will generate. "Some people feel that they're already paying for the service they're receiving, and others (in support of the fee) will say that we are looking at any other sources for revenue."
Once residents have spoken their minds, the board will vote on whether to adopt the so-called "first responder fee," an attempt by the financially embattled fire agency to recover its costs.
The $337 fee, which would apply to every person firefighters treat during a call, would generate an estimated $600,000 annually.
The fee would go toward not only the hourly expense of dispatching a three-person crew -- captain, engineer and rank-and-file firefighter -- but also the other costs associated with putting that team in the field, including fuel, insurance and vehicle maintenance, Henderson said.
He also noted that other fire districts around the county, including Contra Costa County Fire, Moraga-Orinda Fire and San Ramon Valley Fire districts, already charge such first responder fees.
The district would bill patients' health insurance companies and adopt policies to deal with those who couldn't afford the cost.
Henderson said that after deciding whether to adopt the fee, the board will revisit the idea of imposing fees for showing up at vehicle accidents and clearing crash sites, mopping up after structure fires and taking care of situations in which residents burn refuse in their backyards without the proper permits.
The directors' decision to pursue the fee comes on the heels of their Dec. 28 vote to renew their firefighters' contract, which expired Sept. 30, 2014. The new one covers the period Oct. 1, 2014, through June 30, 2017.
Effective Jan. 1, members of the International Association of Firefighters Local 1230 all received a 5 percent raise, and emergency medical technicians who undergo advanced training now will get an additional 5 percent pay hike.
As such, the annual pay for union members currently ranges from $52,800 for an entry-level firefighter to $74,016 for the most seasoned fire captain; the latter figure will increase to $75,936 on July 1.
The raises do not apply to Henderson or the district secretary. The $94,447 annual salary of the district's three battalion chiefs also will remain the same.
In addition, the 33-month contract establishes a 10 percent pay differential between ranks.
Reach Rowena Coetsee at 925-779-7141. Follow her at Twitter.com/RowenaCoetsee.
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