By Tim Henley
The Oklahoman
THE VILLAGE, Okla.— Residents who need medical attention can use the Emergency Medical Services Authority ambulance service without incurring sizable ambulance fees.
Beginning next month, residents will see a 75-cent increase on their monthly utility bills.
The city council earlier this month approved increasing the city’s emergency medical service fee from $1.50 to $2.25 per month.
The increase will allow residents who need emergency assistance to ride in an EMSA vehicle without paying an ambulance fee, City Manager Bruce Stone said.
The $1.50 monthly fee the city currently charges only allowed EMSA workers to respond to an emergency within city limits, but residents were required to pay the ambulance fee.
“Of course no one thinks they’re ever going to have to use the ambulance,” Stone said. “If they do have to use it, this will be a tremendous benefit not having to worry about the cost.”
An ambulance ride costs about $1,100, said Tina Wells, EMSA vice president of marketing and policy development.
Although residents won’t have to pay fees, EMSA will continue collecting fees from insurance companies, Medicaid or Medicare.
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