Emergency Medical Services

Receive your free Vial of Life emergency kit from the fire department. For more info, please get in touch with fire administration at 626-307-1262.

Responsibilities

The Emergency Medical Services Division provides fast and efficient emergency medical care through cross-trained firefighters-paramedics. The Fire Department's EMS Program operates two fully equipped advanced life support ambulances and two paramedic assessment engines, responding to more than 3,100 emergency medical calls each fiscal year.

Continually evaluating the EMS Program and its services, the Fire Department recently participated in a County-wide study, one of four agencies that studied and evaluated CPR and its effectiveness. Monterey Park's paramedics were a key component in this ground-breaking study, which quantified and validated the effectiveness of pre-hospital CPR and patient survival. The Department also participated in a UCLA Center for Pre-hospital Care "Best Practices" study in which the effectiveness of current care and treatment procedures for pain management, field documentation, patient safety, and pediatric medication administration were studied.

In addition to providing emergency medical services, the following programs are available.

For ambulance billing questions, don't hesitate to contact our billing company, Wittman Enterprises, at 855-611-0056.

COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES GENERAL PUBLIC AMBULANCE RATES

EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2024

Rates Effective July 1, 2024

Response to a non-emergency call with equipment and personnel at an advanced life support (ALS) level. $3,110.00

Response to an emergency call with equipment and personnel at an advanced life support (ALS) level. $3,329.00

Response to a non-emergency call with equipment and personnel at a basic life support (BLS) level. $2,072.00

Response to an emergency call with equipment and personnel at a basic life support (BLS) level. $2,223.00

Mileage Rate. Each mile or fraction thereof. $29.00

Waiting Time. For each 30 minutes or fraction thereof after the first 30 minutes of waiting time at the request of the person hiring the ambulance. $176.00

Standby Time. The base rate for the prescribed level of service and, in addition, for each 30 minutes or fraction thereof after the first 30 minutes of standby time. $168.00

This section does not apply to a contract between the ambulance operator and the county where different rates or payment mechanisms are specified.

*Editor’s note: Fee changes in this section include changes made by the Director of Emergency Medical Services Agency under County Code Section 7.16.340 – Modification of Rates are effective July 1, 2023, and every July 1 thereafter.

 

7.16.310 Special charges.

A ground ambulance operator shall charge no more than the following rates for special ancillary services:

Rates Effective July 1, 2024

Request for service after 7:00 p.m. and before 7:00 a.m. of the next day will be subject to an additional maximum charge of $31.00.

Persons requiring oxygen shall be subject to an additional maximum charge of $117.00 per tank or fraction thereof and oxygen delivery equipment, including a nasal cannula and/or oxygen mask.

Neonatal transport. $295.00

Registered Nurse or Respiratory Therapist Specialty Care Transport with equipment and personnel for up to 3 hours of transportation. $3,746.00

Registered Nurse and Respiratory Therapist Specialty Care Transport with equipment and personnel for up to 3 hours of transportation. $4,232.00

Registered Nurse and/or Respiratory Therapist per hour after the first 3 hours. $211.00

Volume ventilator. $227.00

Disposable medical supplies. $34.00

Where other special services are requested or needed by any patient or authorized representative thereof, a reasonable charge commensurate with the cost of furnishing such special service may be made, provided that the ambulance operator shall file with the Director of the Department of Health Services a schedule of each special service proposed and the charge therefore, which charge shall be effective unless modified, restricted, or denied by the Director of the Department of Health Services. Special services are defined as services provided to a patient that are unique and individual to a specific patient’s needs and are performed on a limited basis.

Charges for special services provided to patients that are new services but will become an industry standard must be reviewed, and a rate commensurate with the service developed prior to ambulance operators charging such rate to the general public. Such rates shall not be charged to patients until approved by the Board of Supervisors.

This section does not apply to a contract between an ambulance operator and the county where different rates or payment mechanisms are specified.

(Ord. 2011-0031 § 28, 2011: Ord. 2003-0058 § 4, 2003: Ord. 96-0067 § 18, 1996: Ord. 94-0038 § 2, 1994:Ord. 91-0071 § 3, 1991: Ord. 90-0088 § 2, 1990: Ord. 89-0092 § 3, 1989: Ord. 88-0181 § 33, 1988; Ord.88-0170 § 3, 1988: Ord. 87-0131U § 2, 1987: Ord. 86-0111 § 2, 1986: Ord. 85-0120U § 2, 1985: Ord. 83-0201 § 4, 1983: Ord. 83-0017 § 3 (part), 1983: Ord. 82-0105 § 3, 1982: Ord. 12077 § 1 (part), 1980: Ord.11806 § 1 (part), 1978: Ord. 5860 Ch. 4 § 1010, 1951.)

*Editor’s note: Fee changes in this section include changes made by the Director of Emergency Medical Services Agency under County Code Section 7.16.310 – Modification of Rates, effective July 1, 2023, and every July 1 thereafter.

7.16.340 Modification of rates.

The maximum rates chargeable to the general public as outlined in Sections 7.16.280 and 7.16.310 of this chapter shall be adjusted effective July 1, 1992, and July 1st of each year thereafter to reflect changes in the dollar's value. For each of the one-year periods respectively, beginning July 1, 1992, and July 1, 1993, such adjustments shall be made by multiplying the base amounts by the percentage change in the transportation portion of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, Western Region, as compiled and reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the 12 months ending with the last day of the prior month of February. Beginning July 1, 1994, and on each July 1 thereafter, such adjustments shall be determined by multiplying the base amounts by the average of the percentage changes of the transportation portion and the medical portion of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, Western Region, as compiled and reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the 12 months ending with the last day of the prior month of February. Beginning July 1, 2017, and on every July 1 thereafter, such adjustments shall be determined by multiplying seventy-five (75) percent of the base amounts by the percentage change of the minimum wage change in Los Angeles County as defined in County Code Section 8.100.040 – Minimum Wage and by multiplying twenty-five (25) percent of the base amounts by the percentage change of the Medical Care line item of the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Customers, Western Region, as compiled and reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the 12-month period ending with the last day of the prior month of February, except for the following changes: Registered Nurse/Respiratory Therapist per hour after the first three (3) hours adjustment shall be determined by multiplying the current charge by the percentage change of the minimum wage change in Los Angeles County as defined in County Code Section 8.100.040 – Minimum Wage: mileage adjustment shall be determined by multiplying the current charge for the percentage change of the transportation line item of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Customers, Western Region, as compiled as compiled and reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the 12-month period ending with the last day of the prior month of February: and Oxygen, Disposable Medical Supplies, and a Ventilator adjustment shall be determined by multiplying the current charges by the percentage change of the Medical Care line item of the Consumer Price Index for all of the Customers, Western Region, as compiled and reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the 12-month period ending with the last day of the prior month of February. Beginning July 1, 2024, and every July 1 thereafter, such adjustments shall be determined by multiplying seventy-five (75) percent of the base amounts by the percentage change of the minimum wage change in Los Angeles County as defined in the County Code Section.

8.100.040 – Minimum Wage, or by two percent, whichever is higher, and by multiplying twenty-five (25) percent of the base amounts by the percentage change of the Medical Care line item of the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers, Western Region, as compiled and reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the 12 months ending with the last day of the prior month of February. The determined result shall be rounded to the nearest whole number and added or subtracted, as appropriate, to the rate. The Director of the Department of Health Services shall initiate implementation of these rate changes by notifying in writing each licensed private ambulance operator in Los Angeles County thereof and any other individual or agency requesting such notification from the Director. Such notice shall be sent by first-class mail no later than June 15 of the prior period.

(Ord. 94-0038 § 3, 1994: Ord. 91-0071 § 4, 1991: Ord. 88-0170 § 4, 1988: Ord. 83-0017 § (part), 1983:Ord. 11806 § 1 (part), 1978: Ord. 5860 Ch. 4 § 1017, 1951.)