West County EMS and Fire Plan Charges for Service

After months of discussion, the  Board of Directors voted Monday night to begin charging resident's insurance companies for ambulance service.

"We want residents to understand there is no cost to them," West County EMS spokesperson Kim Bacon explained. "So in a time of crisis there will not be a charge. They will never see a bill."

The proposal passed unanimously and will take effect Jan. 1 for the department, which serves of Ballwin along with Manchester and Town and Country.

The decision comes after the district provided information in a newsletter and online and sought public comment at a Nov. 1 public meeting. No residents showed up at that meeting with questions, concerns or to address the board.

The decision also comes about two weeks after the board of directors approved the purchases of two new ambluances at a cost $298,000 each, which were paid for with the sale of bonds approved by voters in 2008.

Chief Dave Frazier said the district had been contacted by fewer than 10 residents about the billing proposal, half with questions about the billing plan and the other half expressing opposition to the billing.

The patient's insurance company will now be charged $650 plus mileage when ambulance service is needed. Board members reiterated Monday night that a resident will never see a bill, it will go directory to their insurance company or be written off if the resident does not have insurance. Currently, the West County EMS and Fire Protection District does not charge residents for service. It relies on taxpayer funds to cover operation costs.

"Because of the last couple years we've been having some deficits in the ambulance fund, so in leui of any type of tax increase we are reviewing this as an option like many other ambulance districts, " Chief Dave Frazier Jr explained.

According to Bacon, twelve districts in the St. Louis area do bill residents' insurance including, Metro West, Hazelwood, Affton, Mehlville, Frontenac, Kirkwood, Florissant, Clayton, Des Peres, Ladue, University City and West Overland.

Nothing will change on non-residents' billing due to the new plan.

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