San Luis Obispo County Officials Approve Third Ambulance Service Payment Rate Increase in Past Year

San Luis Obispo County health officials this month approved an 11% payment rate increase for San Luis Ambulance, a privately owned company that last year responded to 98% of the county's emergency calls, the San Luis Obispo Tribune reports. The increase took effect July 7 and is the third rate increase in one calendar year to receive regulatory approval, Katherine O'Neill, county health systems administrator said. The ambulance rate has increased by 52% in the past year. The new cost for ambulance service increased to $1,040.85 from $935.60 in March. The company since 1976 has held a public contract with the county (Phillips, San Louis Obispo Tribune, 7/19).