Riverhead ambulance-fee plan deadline extended

Riverhead Town officials are learning that charging people for ambulance service is a little more complicated than they first thought. But they also are finding out there is real interest from people who want to do the billing work for the town.

The idea of charging for ambulance service was proposed at a town board work session last month, after officials realized that some insurance plans pay for it. There was no clear idea about what to do when people who are uninsured need an ambulance.

To explore the idea further, the town asked firms interested in providing medical transportation billing and reimbursement services to submit proposals by Sept. 6, but found that several of them asked the town for more information, which officials could not readily provide.

Riverhead Town and the Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps are working on getting that information.

Meanwhile, the town board extended its deadline to submit proposals until Oct. 1 at 11 a.m.

Councilman George Gabrielsen, who opposes charging for ambulance service, voted against the measure at the board’s Sept. 5 meeting.

Above: Riverhead Town Hall