A 1.2 percent increase to the ambulance service rate is now in effect for the City of Newton. The city council approved the increase Monday based on a yearly review of the fee schedule.
“The Newton Fire Department provides ambulance service for a fee to the citizens and visitors of Newton,” interim city administrator Jarrod Wellik said. “Each year the fee schedule is reviewed and revised based on increases or decreases to the Medicare fee schedule.”
The Center for Medicare Services released the fee schedule at the first of the year wooing a 1.2 percent increase. Wellmark is the largest insurance provider that reimburses the department for ambulance services and its current rate schedule is based on a factor of 1.7 times the established Medicare rates. The charges for the NFD ambulance services are based on 1.75 times the established Medicare rates, which is factor set by city council in 2012.
The current Basic Life Support Non-Emergency rate is $369 with the increase bringing to the charges to $373. The expected Wellmark reimbursement is estimated at $360 and the Medicare reimbursement is set at $213.25.
For Basic Life Support Emergency services the rate increased to $597, up from $590 previously. The expected Wellmark reimbursement is estimated at $576 and the Medicare reimbursement is set at $341.20.
Advanced Life Support Non-Emergency and Emergency services will increase $5 and $8 respectively from $443 to $448 and $701 to $709. Wellmark is expected reimburse $432 and $684 while Medicare has a rate of $225.90 and $405.18.
In Advanced Life Support-2 circumstances, the rate increases from $1,015 to $1,026 with Wellmark reimbursing $990 and Medicare set at $586.44. Specialty Care Transport is up to $1,213 from $1,199. Wellmark is scheduled to at a reimbursement rate of $1,169 and Medicare comes in at $693.07.
The rate for mileage per loaded mile increase is up $1 from $12 to $13. The Wellmark reimbursement rate is $12 with Medicare reimbursing $11.04.
The rates were last increased in June 2016.
Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com