There are at least 2 private-sector ambulance companies in the Greater Milwaukee area.
Under current ambulance fees, a [Waukesha] resident is charged $375, $500 or $650, depending on the level of services needed. Non-residents are charged $510, $590 or $770. Both pay $8 per mile for trips, as well.
Effective as soon as possible upon Common Council approval, those fees would increase by $100 for residents and from $80 to $110 for non-residents. Mileage would jump to $12 per mile.
Beginning in July, the rates would go up $95 to $118 more for residents and $125 to $200 more for non-residents, with trip costs at $14 per mile.
The largest increase would be felt by residents needing the most basic service, such as a wound bandaged or a broken arm splinted, where the $375 fee would increase to $593 by next July - a 58% increase.
I don't doubt the figures, nor the rationale for the increase.
But it seems to me that privately-owned firms now have a price-point against which they can compete, and it's about time that municipal leaders start asking questions about who should render the service.
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$12 a mile, what are they driving, a suped up ambulance?
Ambulance feescan be outrageous and they get you on the mileage, but the ambulance service is a huge money maker for local fire departments and EMS squads.
Oh, wait, isn't it wrong for health care companies to make profits?
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