Newton ambulance rates to increase 1.4 percent

Ambulance service rates for the City of Newton are increasing by 1.4 percent in 2018. City council approved the rate changes which range from $6 to $18 depending on the service.

“There is a modest increase over last year,” Newton Fire Chief Jarrod Wellik said. “Each year those numbers are set by Medicare.”

The Center for Medicare Services releases the fee schedule toward the beginning of the year, this year in February. Wellmark, the largest insurance provider that reimburses the department for ambulance services, set its current rate schedule 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 the city council in 2012.

The current basic life support non-emergency rate is $373, with the increase bringing to the charges to $379. The expected Wellmark reimbursement is estimated at $372 and the Medicare reimbursement is set at $216.

For basic life support emergency services, the rate increased to $606, up from $597 last year. The expected Wellmark reimbursement is estimated at $595 and the Medicare reimbursement is set at $346.

Advanced life support non-emergency and emergency services will increase $6 and $11, respectively, from $448 to $454 and $709 to $720. Wellmark is expected reimburse $446 and $706 while Medicare has a rate of $259 and $411.

In advanced life support-2 circumstances, the rate increases from $1,026 to $1,041, with Wellmark reimbursing $1,023 and Medicare set at $595. Specialty care transport is up to $1,231 from $1,213. Wellmark is scheduled to at a reimbursement rate of $1,208 and Medicare comes in at $703.

The rate for mileage per loaded mile remains the same at $13. The Wellmark reimbursement rate is $12with Medicare reimbursing $11.18.

The rates were last increased in February 2017.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com