Starting next year, ambulance rides in Los Angeles could become significantly more expensive. In April, the Board of Fire Commissioners approved a proposal to increase emergency ambulance transport service fees. This proposal is now with the City Council for final approval. If the Council approves, both Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) emergency ambulance flat fees would increase by over $200. Additionally, mileage fees are expected to rise by nearly 50%, from $20 to $29 per mile.
The fee hikes are anticipated to generate millions in additional revenue for the city. However, officials have not clarified whether these increases will lead to improvements in service quality. This uncertainty comes as data from the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) indicates that emergency response times have been steadily rising over the past decade.
The proposed changes align with broader trends in ambulance service fee adjustments across the United States. For example, Medicare’s Ambulance Fee Schedule includes various temporary add-on payments to support ambulance services in rural and urban areas. These adjustments, including a 3% increase in base and mileage rates for rural areas, are set to expire on October 1, 2025, unless further legislation extends them…