Exclusive | FDNY plans to hike cost of ambulance rides by 29%, increase on site emergency treatment by 42%

These price tags are enough to make you sick.The FDNY is considering hiking ambulance and emergency medical bills by double digits — blaming the squeeze on patients’ pockets on inflation and coming pay increases for union workers.The proposed hikes could send an ambulance ride through the 911 system soaring 29%, while “treatment in place” services would balloon an eye-watering 42%.“The Fire Department is proposing this rule because of increased costs and to help offset the City’s cost of providing these services,” the FDNY said in a statement proposing the increase.“The proposed rates reflect increases in personal services costs and other than personal service costs required to provide emergency ambulance services and have been calculated to reduce the portion of such costs that is currently borne by City taxpayers.”The labor contract for EMS workers is expired and raises are expected under any new contract.It’s be the first increase in medical transport fees and services was imposed in May 2023.The cost of a normal or a “basic life support” ambulance ride would spike from $1,385 to $1,793 under the change, while “treatment in place” service provided by ambulance medics would jump from $630 to $896.Fees for advanced life support service Levels 1 and 2 would increase by 30.7%.Level 1 life support trips would increase from $1,680 to $2,196 and Level 2 would surge from $1,692 to $2,012.The charge per mile for the trip to the hospital will remain at its current $20.Administering oxygen costs $66.There is no settled labor contract between the FDNY and EMTs and paramedics, but the deparment is calculating an increase in labor costs based on the collective bargaining agreements or “pattern” set with the unions representing other city workers.“The rates do not necessarily reflect the amounts accepted by the Fire Department as payment for ambulance treatment and transport services from government and private health insurance plans,” the d...