The *Daily Herald* recently published an article detailing a significant change in ambulance fees in Glen Ellyn, as the village prepares to implement new charges for nonresidents and certain emergency calls that were previously free of cost.
Trustees unanimously approved three key changes to the fee structure this week, set to take effect on June 15, 2014, as part of efforts to manage rising operational costs. Assistant Village Manager Al Stonitsch emphasized the importance of these fees in supporting the village’s emergency medical services (EMS). “While they don’t generate a profit, they help cover some of the expenses,†he explained.
In fiscal year 2012-13, the village spent over $1 million on ambulance services but only collected around $744,000 in fees, highlighting the financial strain on the system.
Under the first adjustment, nonresident fees for two types of advanced life-support services will increase by $103 and $219, respectively, from previous rates of $1,097 and $1,181. Resident fees and those for basic life-support services will remain unchanged.
A second change introduces two new categories: one for "treat/no transport" calls, where patients are treated but not transported, and another for "citizen assist" calls. Currently, the village does not charge for these, but they make up roughly 25% of all ambulance responses annually.
Officials reviewed similar communities like Naperville and Hinsdale, which already charge for such calls. For example, Naperville charges $50 for residents and $100 for nonresidents for treat/no transport, while Hinsdale charges $450 and $650, respectively.
Glen Ellyn proposed fees of $100 and $150 for treat/no transport and $50 and $100 for citizen assists. Fire Chief Jim Bodony said the goal is to reduce unnecessary calls, especially from elderly individuals who may have fallen at home or in senior care facilities. “We get the call because they’ve fallen and just need the fire department to get them back in bed,†he said.
The new fees aim to prevent senior care facilities from relying on EMS as a backup when they lack sufficient staff. Trustee Tim Elliott expressed support for higher nonresident rates for such facilities, stating, “I would favor a higher nonresident rate for senior facilities that are basically using the paramedics as their backup.â€
To ease the burden on low-frequency users, officials initially suggested a “three strike†rule, where billing would start only after the fourth citizen assist call. However, the board ultimately decided not to adopt this proposal.
Finally, trustees approved a third change: an annual fee escalation clause that will increase by 2% or the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower, beginning in June 2016.
Thanks, Dan.
A previous post on funding for the Glen Ellyn VFD.
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