VIDEO: The City of Sparks is considering a so called first responder fee for people calling 911 for medical assistance. The city says the $527 fee would go towards covering the cost of specialized equipment and medications used in a 911 response. Should the fee be implemented, residents in the city of Sparks would have their insurance provider billed, though residents may receive a letter requesting insurance information.
They say that while property taxes are used to fund the fire department’s core services, emergency medical care goes beyond the scope of those basic services, as advanced treatments, medications and specialized equipment are not fully covered by property taxes. The city says they would not profit from a first responder fee. Should the fee be approved, the fee would apply if the Sparks Fire Department is the first arriving EMS provider, and the emergency response results in an ambulance transport to a hospital by a different agency.
