ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, May 15, 1996 TAG: 9605150094
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: VIRGINIA EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHRISTINA NUCKOLS STAFF WRITER
MEMO: ***CORRECTION***
Published correction ran on May 17, 1996.
Roanoke's ambulance fees are $145 for basic service and $290 for
advanced. There are no proposals to increase the rates this year.
Information published Wednesday was incorrect.
Ambulance fees could become a necessary means to pay for emergency services in Roanoke County, the county's top fire and rescue officer said Tuesday.
Chief Tommy Fuqua told Roanoke County Supervisors during a budget hearing that such fees wouldn't cover all of the county's emergency services budget, but could relieve volunteers of the chore of fund raising.
The issue of ambulance fees was first raised in 1993 by the Roanoke County Professional Fire Fighters and Paramedics organization, but this is the first year Fuqua has made them a part of his budget presentation to the board. Next year's budget does not include revenues from fees, however.
The emergency services executive board is not taking a position on the fees other than to suggest that the issue be studied. However, Fuqua indicated support for the concept.
"I feel we need to move toward this alternative," he told supervisors. "There's money from insurance companies out there that will pay for the transports."
Fuqua said a $145 minimum charge for the 4,000 cases last year where patients were transported to a hospital would generate a maximum of $583,000. However, taking into consideration collection costs and the national collection rate average of 80 percent, he said the actual net in revenue would be more like $256,000.
The revenue estimates don't take into account the likelihood that advanced life support calls for life-threatening emergencies would have a higher fee closer to $350. Fuqua also noted that the city charges $8 per mile on top of its flat fee.
Roanoke charges $115 for basic emergency medical service and $190 for advanced emergency medical service. City Council is considering increases of $130 and $180, respectively.
Fuqua said the city revenues last year for ambulance fees were $1.2 million.
If supervisors agree to look at the issue, Fuqua said, it would take six months to a year before fees could be initiated.
"I'm not saying let's put it in and start tomorrow," he said.
Fuqua noted that most volunteer emergency workers oppose ambulance fees because they could reduce contributions, but he suggested fees could replace their annual fund-raising efforts.
About 35 paid and volunteer emergency workers attended Tuesday's hearing, most sitting silent with their arms crossed as they listened to Fuqua's presentation. Later, Bruce Roy, president of the professional association, said he continues to support the concept.
Fees already are a matter of debate among supervisors. Chairman Bob Johnson of the Hollins District questioned the need for ambulance fees, saying, "That'll be a big philosophical change for us."
However, Vinton Supervisor Harry Nickens pointed to a list of $1.8 million in staff and equipment needs that won't be covered in the department's budget request for next year. Like all county departments, fire and rescue is being asked to increase its budget request no more than 2.56 percent from last year's $3.7 million.
Fuqua said top priorities if he can go beyond the 2.56 percent would be repairs to an air truck, the addition of two paramedic firefighters and a new ambulance for the Bent Mountain Station.
Roy was critical of the request, saying too little money is going toward staffing, noting three instances this week in which no crews were available to handle calls.
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