By Associated Press - Monday, December 11, 2017

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) - Emergency medical technicians might charge patients who receive on-scene care but don’t require transportation to the hospital in a western Iowa city next year.

The Sioux City Council will vote Monday on a proposal to introduce a $186 to $327 fee for services received from paramedics at a scene.

The new fee structure comes as the Sioux City Fire Rescue takes over 911 ambulance services from nonprofit Siouxland Paramedics in January. The nonprofit previously didn’t charge for on-scene care, the Sioux City Journal reported .

Under the proposal, basic on-scene life support will cost $186 and advanced on-scene life support will cost $327. The city adopted Siouxland Paramedics’ existing fee structure for other services as well.

In Iowa, Dubuque, Dallas County and Panora charge for basic and advanced life support. Sioux City’s proposed on-scene care rates match the average of those communities.

Tom Everett, the city’s fire chief, said the move is intended to cut down on the subsidy that is paid by taxpayer dollars for the new division. The fees are anticipated to generate about $1.75 million annually. But the Sioux City service is already predicted to operate at a loss.

According to projections from Siouxland Paramedics’ finances, Sioux City Fire Rescue estimates that the new division will require a subsidy of nearly $600,000. The city will begin covering the subsidy in January.

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Information from: Sioux City Journal, http://www.siouxcityjournal.com

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