VA County to Charge for Ambulance Service

In an effort to improve their emergency equipment and provide better training to emergency first responders, Prince William County, Virginia has made the decision to begin charging health insurers for ambulance services.

Effective July 1, whenever a patient is transported to the hospital via an emergency medical service, the county will bill the patient’s insurance company. This includes both Medicaid and Medicare, but county officials stress that individuals will not be charged.

The fee schedule for ambulance fees is:
– $400 for basic life support services
– $500-$700 for any advanced life support services, depending on the extent of care.

According to the Prince William County fire chief, these fees should generate about $3.1 million each year for the county.

Prince William County is not the only county in Virginia that has imposed such emergency service fees.

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