Show All Answers

1. Why am I getting charged a First Responder Fee?

The Cosumnes Community Services District Board Of Directors approved a resolution in 2014 to implement the First Responder Fee to cover the increasing costs of providing Paramedic level Emergency Medical Services on all Fire Suppression Companies within the jurisdictional boundary of the CSD. This fee is reviewed annually by the Cosumnes Fire Department Staff and is approved for the following fiscal year based on a review of the actual costs associated with providing this service level. You have a received a First Responder Fee if you were the subject of an Emergency Medical Service (EMS) incident such as a vehicle accident, technical rescue, traumatic injury or medical complaint and a fire suppression company/fire ambulance or both provided an assessment for those injuries/complaints under the Sacramento County Emergency Medical Services protocols.

2. Why is there a First Responder Fee charged if a Cosumnes Fire Department Engine and an out of District Ambulance arrive at the scene?

In the event that the Cosumnes Fire Department responds to a medical type incident as described above and ambulance service is provided by another Fire Service Agency ambulance, billing processes are altered slightly due to the regulations and practices surrounding the payment of insurance claims. In this event, a First Responder Fee will be billed to the patient’s insurance coverage first separately from the ambulance transport bill from the other fire agency. If the patient’s insurance coverage does not provide a benefit for this type of service, the fee is then billed directly to the patient.

3. Is the First Responder Fee charged if a Cosumnes Fire Department Engine and a Cosumnes Fire Department Ambulance arrive at the scene?

If both assessing/treating apparatus (fire suppression company/fire ambulance) come from the same agency, the unit which provides the assessment/treatment will initiate a First Responder Fee for the incident. If the patient or patients is/are transported to the hospital based on medical necessity, the First Responder Fee will first be billed to the person/’s auto insurance (vehicle accidents) or medical insurance. If the person’s medical insurance does not provide coverage for the First Responder Fee, then the fee will be billed directly to the person/guardian as an out of pocket expense.

4. Why would an out of District Ambulance take me to the hospital instead of a Cosumnes Fire Department Ambulance?

The intention of the Cosumnes Fire Department is to provide exemplary Emergency Medical Services through a technologically robust fleet of fire suppression companies and fire ambulances that are strategically located throughout the District. Currently, we have 9 fire suppression companies and 7 fire ambulances 24 hours a day and 1 fire ambulance staffed 10 hours a day to handle peak volume periods. All of these units are staffed with a minimum of one California State Licensed Paramedic and carry all of the required Advanced Life Support equipment and medications to provide life saving care and transport.

The Cosumnes Fire Department provides ambulance transport services to nearly 311 square miles of southern Sacramento county. As we cannot guarantee that even with this robust fleet of equipment that we shall have enough emergency units to handle all types of incidents, the Cosumnes Fire Department is a part of the Sacramento Area Fire Services boundary drop system. This concept is based around sending the closest appropriate resource to the call for service. In simple terms, you may live in Elk Grove, but when you call 911 for help you may see Cosumnes Fire Department, Sacramento City Fire Department, Sacramento Metro Fire Department or Folsom Fire Department providing service to you. The Sacramento Area Fire Services respond to nearly 250,000 calls for service a year, and we are one of the most aggressive counties in the state to subscribe to this type of service provision. This system is made possible through our Joint Powers Agreement to provide the Sacramento Fire and Emergency Medical Services Communication Center (Dispatch) who as a part of their service provides Emergency Medical Services trained Dispatchers who can begin life saving measures during our response.

5. Who do I contact if I have a question about my First Responder Fee bill?

If you have questions regarding your First Responder Fee, please know first of all we will attempt to seek reimbursement from your auto/medical insurance coverage first if we have the information. If we do not have this information you will receive a notice of billing from our billing division. They will seek out copies of insurance cards and confirmation of group/policy numbers and other demographic information to satisfy the biller that we did in fact provide service to you or a party you are responsible for.

This communication will come via US mail from and encourage responses to the following address:

Cosumnes Fire Department

PO Box 269110

Sacramento CA 95826

Ph 1-800-906-6552 M-F 8:00a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PST

Checks and credit cards accepted.

6. What is the process to dispute my First Responder Fee bill?

TBD

7. What happens if I do not pay my First Responder Fee bill?

TBD