St. Clair Shores hikes ambulance fees: City is to charge maximum allowed by health insurers [Detroit Free Press]

Feb. 21--St. Clair Shores is the latest Macomb County community to raise many of its ambulance service fees, hiking them to the maximum amounts allowed under health insurance.

Increases include about $107 more for basic life-support emergency runs for residents and a new fee of $39.71 for oxygen for residents and nonresidents. Advanced life-support emergency runs remain the same at $500 for residents and nonresidents, but a more advanced run went up $150 for residents and $80 for nonresidents, with both fees now at $700.

Fire Chief Matthew Kovalcik said an example of a basic life-support run would be a sprain and an advanced life-support run would be a heart attack or condition requiring intravenous drugs.</p>

The city, which hasn't raised fees since 2006, could generate more than $118,000 in new revenue, he said.

Despite the jump, most of the resident fees fall in line with those of nearly three dozen metro Detroit communities, according to information Kovalcik gave the City Council before its 4-3 vote on the rates this month.The new basic life-support emergency fee of $407.32 keeps the city in the top third on a list of least to most expensive resident fees along with Fraser and Woodhaven. Southfield was the most expensive at $475. For advanced life-support, Grosse Pointe Shores was the most expensive with a $725 fee.

Most communities on the list charge $40 for oxygen. Six charge $50, including Shelby Township, which started charging this year. Six others, including Ferndale, Grosse Pointe Woods and Royal Oak, do not charge for oxygen.

"For the most part, the communities are increasing the amount of the fees allowable by the carriers," said Kathy Harvel, client relations for Riverview-based AccuMed Billing, which handles billing for more than 100 municipality-based EMS/fire services.

As a comparison, Sterling Heights approved a new three-year agreement with Universal-Macomb Ambulance Service this month. The city doesn't set the rates or get revenue from the transports, Fire Chief Steve Kovalcik said. Basic life-support emergency service costs $420 and advanced life-support emergency service costs $530, according to a fee schedule in the council packet. Oxygen is $45.

St. Clair Shores Councilman Kip Walby voted against his city's fee increases because he was concerned about people without insurance and times when insurance companies don't pay the entire amount, forcing the city to go after residents.

"Especially in these economic times, with people who don't have jobs, I don't feel it's appropriate to go after them for these fees. Many of these services are already in their taxes," he said.

Officials are expected to review a policy on hardship cases and how to resolve them.

Eastpointe and Shelby Township increased their fees this year. Eastpointe's last hike was in 2008 and Shelby Township's was in 1995. Both communities said fees rose because of insurance rates.

"We try to follow suit with that," Eastpointe Fire Chief Dan Hagen said. "You're trying to keep the service at as minimal cost as you can."

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