OKLAHOMA CITY — A bill up for consideration could jeopardize rural EMS providers by cutting a critical source of funding, the head of the Oklahoma Ambulance Association warned.
However, a state senator backing the proposal said the reduced reimbursement rates could help lower health insurance costs for residents, Oklahoma Voice reported.
Senate Bill 1067 would allow local governments or ambulance service providers to submit their service rates to the Oklahoma Insurance Department for inclusion in a public database. The bill also proposes reducing the minimum reimbursement amount for out-of-network ambulance services.
Robin Robinson, vice president of the Oklahoma Ambulance Association and director of McClain-Grady County EMS, urged lawmakers to vote against the measure.
Robinson argued that the bill would undermine local control and significantly reduce the revenue her agency collects, just months after a new state law allowed ambulance providers to increase their rates. She also stated that the financial impact of the proposed cuts could equal the cost of employing a full-time paramedic.
“With the bill that was passed last year, I was hoping that we could add another paramedic to staff full-time,” Robinson said. “My call volume is increasing, and that’s not going to change, but the money to be able to staff isn’t there. And so if this bill passes, I’m not going to be able to add that full-time, permanent position.”
Paramedics in Oklahoma earn an average of $48,640, though salaries vary by region, Robinson said. She criticized the bill for imposing a statewide cap on reimbursement rates, rather than allowing local governments to set rates based on local needs.
Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, who authored the bill, said the law that took effect in January could raise Oklahomans’ health insurance premiums by $3 to $5 a month.
He emphasized that the bill doesn’t stop local governments from setting ambulance rates and applies only to out-of-network providers. The proposal would lower reimbursement rates from 325% to 275% of the Medicare or Medicaid rate to help ease pressure on insurance costs.
