May 19, 2010

Ambulance Fees - Chronology

May 19, 2010

By a vote of 5-4, the Montgomery County Council votes to charge ambulance fees.   The Rescue Squad remains opposed to the fees and is committed to overturning them.    Check this website for updates on this issue. 

May 14, 2010

The Montgomery County Volunteer Fire/Rescue Association, in conjunction with the B-CC Rescue Squad, releases a study detailing the harmful efffects of ambulance fees.   Click here for more information. 

April 13 and 26, 2010

The Montgomery County Council's Public Safety Committee held a hearing on ambulance fees on Tuesday, April 13. On April 26, the Public Safety Committee voted to make a recommendation to the full Council to OPPOSE the fees.

March 15, 2010

Despite the public's (and the County Council's) previous opposition to ambulance fees, the Executive's budget for the year beginning July 1, 2010, again proposes to charge a fee to people who are transported by an ambulance in Montgomery County.  The Council's approval is needed before the fee can go into effect.   Please contact the County Council and ask them to reject the proposed "Emergency Medical Transport (ambulance) fee."  For more information, read further.   For contact information of County Council members, click here. 

June 30, 2009

At the County Council meeting held on Tuesday June 30, 2009, the Council voted on legislation related to regulations for administering an ambulance transport fee. The legislation was defeated by a vote of 3 for, 5 against, and 1 abstained.   Although the regulations were defeated, the proposed ambulance fee itself is still on the table and could be brought up for a vote at any time.   County fire/rescue officials say they plan to continue to promote the fee proposal.    Thus, the door is still open for the the Council to enact an ambulance fee this year. 

Take Action Now

Ambulance fees are a bad idea in principle and in practice, and the Council should reject such fees. Email or write: Please send an email to every Councilmember expressing your opposition to the proposed "Emergency Medical Transport (ambulance) fee."

Click here for a list of County Councilmembers and contact information.

Click here for a sample letter. 

To receive email updates on this and other Rescue Squad issues, click here to sign up for our email newsletter.  

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The Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad, Inc.

5020 Battery Lane, Bethesda, Maryland 20814