Effective in April, residents will see a $1.50 increase on their bills. The original rate was $3.50 and, according to city officials, that fee has not changed for a number of years.The increase was announced Tuesday night at the March city council meeting when a new contact was approved. The original contract providing EMS service was set up in 1974. That contract provides Henryetta residents free ambulance service as long as the service is within Okmulgee County. It allows up to five non-emergency calls to each household a year, after which there will a charge for each call. Any transfer calls outside the county result in mileage and waiting time.
The rates for EMS charges include:
Basic Life Support, $775;
Advanced Life Support, $815 up to $875;
Non-Emergency, $450;
Mileage $15 per mile;
Out of county mileage, $300.
If a patient has insurance or is covered by Medicare, EMS will be billing those agencies regardless of whether or not the service would be free to the individual.
Under the current rate, the city has been paying $7,436 each month to the Okmulgee County Medical Service.
