City leaders in San Jose are considering a fee program for the Fire Department's emergency medical services to improve financial sustainability amid rising demand. Fire Chief Robert Sapien emphasized that the city should follow the lead of the 23 other Californian agencies that charge first responder fees. The San Jose Fire Department has responded to over 68,000 emergency medical requests in 2024 alone. A potential charge of $427 for services could be implemented starting January 1, 2026, to help support the budget amid increasing emergency calls post-COVID-19 pandemic.
If approved by the City Council Tuesday, the fire department could bill $427 for emergency medical care starting Jan. 1, 2026.
Implementing a first responder fee will align the department with other medical care providers, helping our community sustain critical life safety services through cost recovery from medical care payers.
#emergency-medical-services #san-jose-fire-department #first-responder-fee #public-safety #city-council
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