In light of the proposed rate hike on local ambulance service, a special task force was formed to “craft a longer-term solution to ambulance funding problems in the Eugene-Springfield area,” according to the City of Eugene.
The new Ambulance Transport System Joint Elected Officials Task Force is comprised of:
- County Commissioner Rob Handy;
- Eugene City Councilors Andrea Ortiz and Mike Clark;
- Springfield City Councilors Dave Ralston and Hillary Wylie;
- Lane Rural Fire/Rescue Board Chair Larry von Moos, and
- Lane Rural Fire/Rescue Board Member Kevin King.
Solution recommendations from the task force, which may possibly be ready for public input in the fall, could involve general tax support, privatization of the service, or possibly a proposal to form an entirely new tax-and-service district.
Rate increases are not a sustainable way to balance the budget in the ambulance business, explained Eugene Deputy Fire Chief Denise Giard, because the full fee is seldom collected. Instead, the majority of patients are either covered by Medicare and/or Medicaid, are members of the FireMed program, or are unable to pay. It is also rare for private insurance to cover the full cost of ambulance transport.
In any case, transport is never denied because of inability to pay.
a special task force is working to craft a longer-term solution to ambulance funding problems in the Eugene-Springfield area. Such a solution could involve general tax support, privatization of the service, or possibly a proposal to form an entirely new tax-and-service district.
