Prince William County, Va. –– It’s going to soon cost you to ride an ambulance in Prince William County.
Before the end of June, fire and rescue officials plan to have in place a system to charge patients being transported to the hospital.
Those who have minor injuries will pay $400, but those with severe or life-threatening injuries will be asked to pay $600 to $700.
Patients no matter the severity of their injuries will also pay an additional $10 per mile for the distance between where they were injured to the hospital.
“We could see the new fees in place sometime between May and June, and the recommendations I am making to the Board of Supervisors tonight is to have funds from the patient transports go to equipment upgrades and for EMS education and training,” said Prince William Department of Fire and Rescue Chief Kevin McGee.
The money would also go to implement a new 24-hour medic unit at a fire station in Montclair, and another medic unit in Prince William.
A private consultant was brought in to determine the fair market price for transporting patients, said McGee. It was that consultant firm that established the rates which the Board of Supervisors approved.
The fees will be billed to insurance companies, Medicare and Medicaid.
McGee says there is no evidence from other jurisdictions who charge for transporting patients to the hospital, like Fairfax County, to suggest residents will hesitate to call for help to avoid paying the fees.
