Instead of signing another five year contract with American Medical Response, Spokane City Council extended the current contract for one year. | Pixabay
Instead of signing another five year contract with American Medical Response, Spokane City Council extended the current contract for one year. | Pixabay
The Spokane City Council recently approved a one year extension of its contract with the city's ambulance provider, American Medical Response (AMR), rather than sign on to another five year deal due to the company's 28% rate increase.
AMR's contract with the city expired at the end of May, according to the Spokesman-Review. AMR justified its rate hike due to new employee labor contracts and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The proposed five year contract between the city and AMR, which the Spokane City Council replaced with just a one year extension for now, called for AMR to charge $975, according to the Spokesman-Review. The current cost of an Ambulance ride in the city is $757 for "basic life support or advanced life support service," with AMR getting an additional $22.88 per mile, according to The Spokesman-Review.
Spokane City Council Member Michael Cathcart was the only no vote for the contract extension, while Councilwoman Kate Burke suggested looking at having the city's fire department provide ambulance services.
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