City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: MARCH 26, 2024
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: JAMES SCHWARTZ, INTERIM FIRE CHIEF
DOCKET TITLE:
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Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to increase the Ambulance Service Charges by amending Article J (SERVICE CHARGES FOR CITY AMBULANCE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENT RESPONSE SERVICES) to Chapter 2 (TAXATION) of Title 3 (FINANCE, TAXATION AND PROCUREMENT).
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ISSUE: Consideration of an ordinance to increase ambulance transport fees to coincide with cost increases in the EMS System. The higher rates, which are based on the levels of service provided, will allow the City to offset a higher percentage of EMS costs.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council consider the proposed ordinance (Attachment 2) on first reading and set it for second reading and public hearing on April 13, 2024, and final passage on May 1, 2024, with budget adoption.
BACKGROUND: This memorandum provides detailed information regarding a proposed Ambulance service fee and per mile charge increase for FY 2025. The last time the City of Alexandria increased fees was in 2021.
DISCUSSION: Since the inception of fees, EMS transport fees, or user fees, have helped recover part of EMS service, but the cost of EMS transport service has always exceeded the amount charged for this service. Staff recommends that ambulance transport fees be increased, since they have not been increased since 2021.
The ordinance provides definitions of Basic Life Support, Advanced Life Support (Level 1) and Advanced Life Support (Level 2). When a patient is transported to a hospital/medical facility, the proposed ambulance service fee schedule will be one of the following:
* For Basic Life Support (BLS): Proposed New Fee is $750. Basic Life Support is the t...
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