Commissioners approve consent agenda including locally required Cal OAR ambulance rate schedule
Summary
Before approving the consent agenda, commissioners discussed a locally required Cal OAR ambulance rate schedule mandated by House Bill 3243 to enable proper Medicaid/Medicare and private-insurance billing. The consent agenda, including the rate schedule, passed 2'0to' 0.
Curry County commissioners spent part of their Dec. 3 meeting discussing a locally required rate schedule for Cal OAR ambulance services before approving the consent agenda.
County counsel and commissioners explained that House Bill 3243 requires a local rate schedule for ambulance providers in the service area to enable proper billing under Medicaid and Medicare and to allow private insurers to be billed at a published local rate. Counsel warned that without a local schedule Cal OAR could be limited to reimbursement at Medicare-plus rates, which often do not cover operating costs.
Commissioner Lynn and county staff discussed the practical effect on residents: most users (about 90%, as described in the discussion) would not face out-of-pocket expenses because Medicare/Medicaid or membership/subscription with Cal OAR would cover costs; roughly 10% of privately insured users could face a higher bill unless they purchase Cal OAR membership. Commissioners agreed on the need to communicate those protections and the rationale for the rate schedule before taking the vote. The consent agenda item that included the Cal OAR rate schedule was approved 2'0to' 0.
No detailed fiscal numbers for the county were provided in the record beyond contractual and reimbursement concerns; county staff described the rate schedule as necessary to avoid service providers operating at a loss and to preserve ambulance services countywide.
Next steps described in the meeting record focused on public communication and membership protections; no separate implementation timeline was specified in the consent record.
