NEW YORK — The FDNY is seeking to increase ambulance and emergency medical treatment fees, with the cost of a standard basic life support ambulance ride rising about 29%, from $1,385 to $1,793.
Under the proposal, treatment-in-place service would increase by about 42%, from $630 to $896.
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Advanced life support fees would also climb by more than 30%. ALS Level 1 would rise from $1,680 to $2,196, while ALS Level 2 would increase from $1,692 to $2,212.
The proposed fee for ALS ambulance treatment in place, or facilitation of treatment in place, would see a smaller increase of just over 4%, from $1,050 to $1,098.
“We’re going from $1,300 to $1,700, which most people can’t afford, even at the current rate,” EMS Local 2507 President Oren Barzila told Spectrum News.
The FDNY cited rising operating costs, saying the increase is also intended to ease the burden on taxpayers. According to the department, the proposed rates reflect the full cost of operating EMS, including payroll.
Barzilay rejected any suggestion that higher FDNY ambulance fees would go toward EMT pay, noting his members have worked for years without a contract and that wage talks have been stalled for months. EMS unions say many providers are paid too little to afford rent.
“Well, they have to have a reason to give the public as to why they’re increasing the rates,” Barzilay said. “That it’s going to somehow result in a contract, but that’s not necessarily true. I haven’t seen any discussion about increasing the rates that will reflect our members’ wages.”
The EMS labor contract has expired, and unions are pushing for raises as part of a new deal. Vincent Variale of Local 3621 said the increases are urgent, noting that at least 600 EMS providers have left since last 2025 and hundreds more may quit in the coming months over low pay.
“They can’t fill the class,” Variale said. “The starting rate for this job is $18 an hour. You could make more money driving for Uber. Why would you want to do this?”
The FDNY will hold a virtual public hearing on the proposed rules at 11 a.m. on May 15 on Microsoft Teams, and the public can also submit comments through the department’s website.
The proposed increase would be the first in three years for medical transport fees and services.
