Rio Verde Fire District residents are losing a long-time benefit of discounted co-pays for emergency ambulance transport.

In a statement released last week, RVFD Chief Gary Bradbury said, “We regret to announce that pursuant to Arizona law, the Rio Verde Fire District will no longer be able to cover the patient co-pay amounts for ambulance transportation.”

For many years while the district contracted with Rural Metro Corporation the company discounted patient co-pay amounts for ambulance transportation.

This was done in communities where Rural/Metro had in place a “master contract” for fire and emergency medical services.

Starting in 2005 this discount was in effect for the Verde Communities and was included as a part of the master contract to be the first responder in the unincorporated Maricopa County area geographically located between the Verde Communities and the City of Scottsdale.

Also in 2005, the Arizona State Legislature enacted A.R.S. § 36-2239(D) to stop all ambulance service providers from discounting the regulated transportation rate set annually by ADHS.

However, ADHS allowed the discounted patient co-payments to continue where the discount was included in a master contract agreement up to the end of the contract period.

In 2011 changes in the operational relationship between Rural Metro and the Rio Verde Fire District resulted in termination of the master contract.

“It has come to the attention of the district that the payment of private individual liabilities, in the form of ambulance transport service co-payments, may be in conflict with laws restricting the use of public funds,” Bradbury said.

“Arizona law requires that public funds must be used for public uses, not private ones.”

The RVFD, which is a political subdivision of the State of Arizona and appropriates public funds, must operate within these applicable laws.

Bradbury said residents of the district should note that Medicare, Medicaid, and many health care insurers cover ambulance transportation costs. The amount of coverage is dependent upon each individual policy.

The full cost of an average ambulance transport is about $1,500. Insured patients can expect to be responsible for patient co-pay amounts that range from $0 to $300 for insured individuals.

“We regret that this added benefit will have to come to an end, but we will continue to provide quality emergency services and assist our residents in any way possible in regards to Rural Metro’s ambulance billing procedures,” Bradbury said.