Virginia Beach is developing a billing system called “compassionate billing” that will recover some of the costs of its ambulance service, WAVY reports.
On Tuesday, the Virginia Beach City Council gave the go-ahead to develop the program, with a final vote required before it goes into action. Under the program, insurance providers, Medicare, and Medicaid will be billed for ambulance services. Residents might still receive bills, but City Council could adopt policies to forgive outstanding debts and ensure no out-of-pocket costs.
A study found the proposed program could generate $14 million annually, with most revenue coming from third-party payers.
A final vote is expected in May 2025. The system, if approved, will take six to nine months to implement.
