Fire District 1 prides itself on being a community based emergency medical service (EMS) provider. In March of 2007, after much dialogue with the Washington State Auditor’s office, the Fire District’s Board of Commissioners learned that part of the funds collected in the EMS Levy could be used to adjust your ambulance bill.  Here’s how it works.  The Fire District recognizes that its taxpayers already, either directly or indirectly, pay for our service prior to using it.  Therefore, if you are taxpayer, a dependent of a taxpayer, or a resident of 90 days or more of the Fire District, the amount your medical insurance (including Medicare) pays for an ambulance transport will be considered payment in full.  This means you will incur no “out-of-pocket” expense for an ambulance transport by Fire District 1.  What you would be expected to pay as a co-pay (the part your insurance does not pay) is paid by the Fire District using EMS Levy funds.   

If you are transported by ambulance, you (or your insurance company) are charged a user fee.  The amount of the user fee depends on the severity of the emergency or the level of care you received (i.e. Basic Life Support versus Advanced Life Support.)  If your total ambulance bill (user fee) is $600, but your medical insurance pays 80% (or $480), you would be expected to pay the remaining $120, but as a resident/taxpayer, thanks to the EMS Levy, your bill will be considered “Paid in Full”.