The Harford County Council is considering a bill introduced by County Executive Glassman to set fees on county-owned ambulance services equal to those under Medicare.

The Baltimore Sun reports:

The legislation also provides for such charges to increase or decrease in step with applicable Medicare charges fluctuations. If there is no comparable Medicare charge for the service provided, the county’s director of emergency services and treasurer would set the fee.

If the patient transported is not covered by insurance – or the insurance does not cover the service provided, the legislation gives the emergency services director and treasurer authority to waive the charge.

The bill also provides waiver authority to the director of emergency services and treasurer for cases in which the patient or the service being provided is not covered by insurance.

The article notes that the bill is one part of a plan by the County Executive’s office to move towards a county paid and county controlled ambulance system.

For more information read the full article in The Baltimore Sun.

Related coverage from Conduit Street:

Harford Launches New Emergency Medical Standards Advisory Board