(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The head of a group that represents private ambulance services in Illinois is calling on Gov. Pritzker to sign a bill that changes the reimbursement rates for ambulance runs.
The bill, which was passed by the General Assembly two months ago, moves ambulance reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid to the state's "fee for service" program.
Christopher Vandenberg, president of the Illinois State Ambulance Association, said Medicare and Medicaid reimburse ambulance companies for ambulance runs at a lower rate, which makes it difficult to pay ambulance crews a competitive salary.
"The job has gotten a lot harder. It really isn't as 'desirable' as it used to be. And I think that's driven, in a large part, by the reimbursement," Vandenberg said.
"Municipalities have the tax base that they supplement, when they can't bring enough revenue in from the services that they're providing,” he said. “They’re able to bring the taxes in and that's why they have always been able to pay more.”
He said that impacts ambulance crews in major fire departments. The private companies, he said, serve as a farm team for municipal fire department ambulance crews.