Virginia County to Charge for Ambulance Trips

Virginia’s Prince William County plans to begin charging health insurance companies for ambulance trips.

On July 1, the county will start billing insurance companies when a patient is taken to the hospital by its emergency medical services. The county will charge Medicaid, Medicare and insurance companies but not individuals.

The ambulance fees will be $400 for basic life support services, and $500 and $700 for advanced life support services.

The county’s fire chief says the initiative will generate an estimated $3.1 million each year, which will be used to upgrade emergency equipment and provide more training.

Several area jurisdictions have similar fees.