Changing ambulance fees was one of the big-ticket items on the agenda at Monday’s Sycamore City Council meeting.
The Sycamore Fire Department estimates the costs of ambulance services at just shy of $3.1 million in fiscal 2018, but the city only recouped around $605,000 of that.
City Manager Brian Gregory said the new flat-rate structure discussed with council Monday would simplify billing, allowing further cost savings for the city. The plan was developed over the previous few months in consultation with the Sycamore Fire Department, he said.
“Currently we do a different billing for the type of service provided,” Gregory told the council. “We wanted to really try to see what it costs us and then work from there.” The new plan calls for a single rate of $1,720 on any ambulatory call for basic or advanced life support. In addition, lift assist fees would increase from $700 to $860 under the new guidelines.