Getting seriously injured in Anne Arundel County could cost people several hundreds dollars if a new ambulance service fee wins County Council approval.
Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold is proposing a $500 fee imposed on anyone taken to any hospital via a county-run ambulance.
“As we?re dealing with fiscal constraints, the [county fire] department is looking for ways to contribute, and this is one,” said Matthew Tobia, battalion chief for the county?s fire and EMS department.
County officials have said no one would be denied ambulance service; they would be billed afterward if the proposal passes the council.
This bill affects anyone traveling in Anne Arundel, even if they are taken to a hospital outside of the county, such as the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, Tobia said.
The fee can also affect people living just outside of the county in places like Laurel, Savage, Baltimore City and Kent Island where Anne Arundel EMS responds as backup support.
If approved, people who use Anne Arundel ambulances will start getting billed in April 2009, Tobia said.
The proposal is one of many “revenue enhancements” needed to offset declining revenues and generate more funding outside of Anne Arundel?s property tax cap, Leopold said.
Leopold said the fee would generate about $2 million a year.
Tobia said 15 other local jurisdictions have similar fees, including Prince George?s, Baltimore and Queen Anne?s counties, and Annapolis, Baltimore City and the District of Columbia.
Officials at Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis declined to comment on the proposal, as they said Leopold?s staff has not discussed the proposed fee with the hospital.
Baltimore-Washington Medical Center in Glen Burnie did not return calls for comment.
Tobia said the proposal is in flux and officials are considering changing the fee to apply only to what insurance companies cover as well as exempting those who are uninsured.
That would appease the Maryland Hospital Association.
“We understand the need for Anne Arundel to generate revenue,” said Nancy Fielder, MHA?s spokeswoman. “These fees are nothing new. But we would like to see that the uninsured will not pay, so it doesn?t deter people from calling 911 for help.”
