VIDEO: A new fee is being added for San Jose Fire Department emergency medical services. Starting Jan. 1, a fee of $427 will be billed to insurance when firefighters provide paramedic-level medical services. According to the City of San Jose, the First Responder Fee Program helps offset the costs of advanced medical response, including personnel, equipment and supplies.
The program was unanimously approved in March by the San Jose City Council. The program is similar to those implemented in more than 20 fire agencies across California, including San Francisco, Sacramento, Sonoma County and more.
The City of San Jose reported that its fire department responds to “more than 68,000 medical-only emergencies each yearโฆ” and that SJFD first responders often arrive before an ambulance in medical emergencies, starting assessment and treatment.
The fee will not be billed directly to the patient, regardless of insurance status. The billing will occur through a third-party billing service and the patient’s health or auto insurance depending on the situation, officials said.
