STU JOHNSON

CREDIT KENTUCKY.COM

The Kentucky legislature is considering imposing a new fee paid by ambulance providers across the state.  It’s an assessment these same emergency medical service entities support.

Jim Duke with the Kentucky Ambulance Providers Association said the 5 and a half percent fee would be assessed on emergency revenues coming into ambulance services.  Duke said the fee only would apply to true emergency runs.  The Ohio County EMS Administrator added individual patients wouldn’t pay more. “There’s language in the bill that says none of this fee can be passed on to the patient.  It has to be paid by the provider.  No increases in fees can be made to the end user,” explained Duke.

Duke noted it would cost ambulance providers about $8 million in Medicaid funds up front, but then would result in $16 million in federal matching funds.  Duke said it would be a total of $24 million in emergency reimbursement.  He added that money could go to hire more EMT’s and retain paramedics as well.   “The increased reimbursements will allow ambulance services to staff better, to have more people on duty.  To pay the people they have on duty a better wage.  To keep those employees, those EMT’s and Advanced EMT’s and paramedics from leaving the profession and going on to do something else because the pay’s better,” Duke said.

The Kentucky House unanimously passed the measure last week.  It goes now to the Senate.

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