The Montgomery County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Transport fee legislation was introduced today at a County Council session in Rockville by County Council President Mike Knapp at the request of the County Executive. Revenue from the fee, collected from health insurance companies, would be dedicated to funding critical needs of the Fire & Rescue Service.

The transport fee will raise at least $14 million a year and will fund and enhance the County’s fire and emergency medical services in the face of increasing resource demands and revenue constraints. The fee will be billed directly to County residents’ health insurance companies. Uninsured County residents are exempt from the fee.

One hundred percent of the net proceeds of the EMS transport fee will be devoted to maintaining the current level of Emergency Medical Services and enhancing those services with new fire apparatus, additional staffing, new stations in the growing upcounty area, and incentives for volunteer opportunities.

“This transport fee offers us the ability to keep the world-class Emergency Medical Services that we currently enjoy and it gives us the opportunity to enhance those services, despite significant fiscal constraints,” said Leggett. “It is also important to note that most of the other jurisdictions in the Washington Metropolitan area already charge a transport fee. We are aware of no evidence that insurance companies have raised their rates or that residents have been reluctant to call 911 when necessary.”

Neighboring jurisdictions that either have an EMS Transport fee or are moving to implement one include Fairfax County, Frederick County, Prince George’s County, the District of Columbia, Carroll County, Baltimore County, Arlington County, and the city of Alexandria.

Montgomery County will enter into agreements with area hospitals to provide insurance information for patients who are transported. A third party billing company will be contracted by the County to collect the fee from the insurance companies, including Medicare. Any costs associated with collecting the EMS fee will be greatly offset by the new revenue.

“The quality of patient care will continue to be the highest priority for Montgomery County’s Fire & Rescue Service,” said County Fire Chief Thomas W. Carr, Jr. “Residents will see zero difference in service delivery with the passage of the EMS transport fee. A resident’s ability or non-ability to pay will never be considered when providing service.”

The proposal has the unanimous support of the County Senior Citizen Fire Safety Task Force and the support, as well, of the International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 1664 and the Montgomery County Career Officers Association.

When a resident makes that 911 call, the first priority will be to take care of that patient’s immediate medical needs. If deemed necessary, the patient will be transported to the hospital. If not, the EMS fee will not be charged to the insurance company.

For more information about the proposed EMS transport fee, contact Scott Graham in the Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service at 240-777-2493 or scott.graham@montgomerycountymd.gov . For information about fire and life safety education programs or non-emergency fire and rescue issues, call 240-777-2400.