Fees established for county’s EMS enhancement program

Fee schedules for the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office’s advanced life support/EMS enhancement program were approved July 11 by the board of supervisors.

Jasper County Sheriff John Halferty said the fee schedule is one of the next steps for the program. If the program develops past its 18-month trial period on Oct. 1, Halferty said the the sheriff’s office needs the ability to receive revenue by charging fees for services, similar to ambulance services by the City of Newton.

Since the program was established the sheriff’s office has not charged residents for the EMS enhancement services it provides. Halferty said in certain areas or for special events, the department will have an opportunity and is obligated to receive income for the county. But Halferty stressed it is not a “money maker.”

According to county documents, the sheriff’s office would charge for staffing and specialized equipment on standby for special events.

For instance, organizers would be charged $150 per hour for an ambulance, $20 per hour for a basic EMT, $25 per hour for an advanced EMT, $30 per hour for a paramedic and $50 for a medical cart UTV. Halferty said fees would primarily affect events at the Iowa Speedway but would be applicable to other events, too.

The ambulance fee schedule for transports was also shared by the sheriff. Depending on whether it is basic life support or advanced life support care, emergency or non-emergency or critical care paramedic transport, the fees range from $412 to $1,740.

If there is a patient with the inability to pay, it is Halferty’s and the sheriff’s office’s intentions to not garnish them or “go after them” demanding payment. But if they have the ability to pay and have insurance, the sheriff’s office has an obligation to bill people just like anybody else the department bills.

“This is just the next step as we continue to build and prepare for the future,” Halferty said to the Jasper County Board of Supervisors. “I think we have an obligation to our taxpayers that if we can recoup some of the costs for this program — and it’s still reasonable — we need to do it.”

If the county did not have a paramedic available and a service agency had to call a metro agency to respond, Halferty said they would be expected to be paid.

“And probably at a higher rate,” he said.