June 12--WATERLOO, Iowa -- Waterloo Fire Rescue ambulance rates will increase next month.
City Council members voted 5-0 Monday without discussion to boost the price of its services by 6 percent.
"We have experienced increased costs in all areas of our operation as well as a 2 percent decrease in Medicare reimbursement," Chief of Fire Services Pat Treloar said in support of the rate increase.
Effective July 1, the rate for an advanced life support emergency call would grow from $644 to $683, while the charge for an basic emergency life support ambulance carry goes from $493 to $523. Mileage rates would grow from $7.88 to $9.88 per mile.
It was the first ambulance rate increase for the city services since a 7 percent rate hike in 2010.
Waterloo Fire Rescue is not always able to collect much from uninsured victims using the ambulance service. The city attempts to collect the full price from private insurance but is restricted to a lesser amount under Medicare rates.
Copyright 2013 - Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Iowa
