West Metro Ambulance Costs

A long-time resident and Lakewood Informer reader recently questioned the cost of an ambulance bill through West Metro. Here’s what we found out:

• Ambulance rates vary based on the level of care provided and the location of the call. West Metro Fire Rescue’s rates have remained unchanged for over four years and are consistent with other urban/suburban agencies providing fire-based EMS response. Currently, bundled rates (BLS1 – ALS2) range from $1,275.00 to $1,650.00, with a mileage rate of $17.60/mile.
• We have one response unit called the Advanced Resource Medic or ARM that responds to 911-generated calls when referred by the initial arriving engine or ambulance crew for patients with low-acuity medical needs that may benefit from treatment-in-place rather than a costly transport to the hospital. This unit also assists patients with navigating resources for both their immediate and long-term healthcare needs like primary care, home health care, assisted living, hospice care, and more.
• The ARM unit is not dispatched to 911-generated calls like an engine and/or ambulance. Rather, the initial arrival crew responds to ensure there is not a life-threatening emergency and then refers appropriate patients to the ARM unit. Patients are billed separately for this service at lower rates than an ambulance transport to the hospital.
• We do have automatic and mutual aid agreements with neighboring agencies to ensure timely response. These are typically reciprocal agreements that do not involve splitting costs. In the case of a patient transport to the hospital, the agency that performs the patient transport will charge their locally set rates.