Excerpts from shawlocal.com:

In 2022, the City of Joliet collected about $11 million from ambulance fees. This year they hiked the standard ambulance fee to $2,800, an increase expected to bring in an additional $934,000 a year. The new fee matches the amount Medicaid pays for ambulance service through the Ground Emergency Medical Transport program.

Joliet residents pay nothing out-of-pocket for city ambulance services, but the hike will allow the city to collect more money from Medicaid and private insurers used by residents.  Joliet waives any part of an ambulance bill not covered by insurers for city residents and employees who work in Joliet regardless of where they live if they require ambulance service in the course of their job duties.

“It’s a federal program that allows us to collect from our Medicaid ambulance patients, which accounts for nearly half of that $11 million,” Fire Chief Jeff Carey said.

The city previously charged fees of $1,800, 1,900, and $2,000 based on the level of life support provided during ambulance service. The same $2,800 fee will now be applied to all ambulance patients.

More than 90% of Joliet Fire Department ambulance calls involve city residents.

The city also charges a fee of $15 a mile for ambulance calls, and a $300 fee is charged for city assistance provided to private ambulance services.

thanks Martin

Tags: chicagoareafire.com, Joliet Fire Department, Joliet raises ambulance fees