Alexandria Ambulance Fees Proposed To Increase In City Budget

ALEXANDRIA, VA — As Alexandria's budget process continues, higher ambulance fees will be one of the measures considered.

Alexandria City Council gave first reading to the ambulance fee increases Tuesday and will have a public hearing on April 13. Final approval will be with the city budget adoption on May 1.

According to a city staff memo to City Council, Basic Life Support Transport would increase from $600 to $750. Advanced Life Support Level 1 Transport would increase from $780 to $1,000. Advanced Life Support Transport Level 2 Transport would increase from $900 to $1,200. The ground transport mileage cost would also increase from $12 to $18 per mile.

Ambulance fees, which the city says insurance companies and Medicare pay a large share of, were last increased in 2021. The city staff memo said increased fees will help the city offset higher EMS costs.

"Since the inception of fees, EMS transport fees, or user fees, have helped recover part of EMS service, but the cost of EMS transport service has always exceeded the amount charged for this service," the city memo reads. '

It will also make fees similar to neighboring Arlington and Fairfax County ambulances, which Alexandrians during mutual aid responses. Arlington's Basic Life Support Transport costs $750, Advanced Life Support costs $1,000 and mileage costs $15 per mile. Fairfax County charges $750 for Basic Life Support, $950 for Advanced Life Support Level 1 Transport, $1,175 for Advanced Life Support Level 2 Transport and $18 per mile for ground transport.

Fees, if approved, would take effect on July 1, 2024, along with the rest of the fiscal year 2025 city budget.