Baltimore County will soon become one of the last jurisdictions in the State to charge a fee for ambulance services. Depending on the kind of care provided, the fee will be either $700 or $750, plus $10 per mile and will be charged to the patient’s health insurance provider, Medicare or Medicaid.
Montgomery County’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Transport Insurance Reimbursement Law went into effect on January 1, 2013. Revenues generated from the program provide equipment, enhancement and training for the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service.
See details on the County’s program.
Officials say every other jurisdiction in Maryland except Calvert County currently charges some fee for ambulance services. In lieu of an ambulance fee, Howard County has a separate tax for fire and rescue services.
The Baltimore County plan could bring in as much as $26 million annually to the County’s general fund, with some directed to volunteer fire companies to help pay for the cost of providing emergency medical and ambulance services.
See Baltimore Sun article.
