The Town Council Jan. 11 approved increases in the base rates charged for rescue calls. The charges, effective Feb. 1, reflect increases in the minimum amount allowed by Medicare, which covers approximately 40-45 percent of Town of Cape Elizabeth rescue calls and are a benchmark for coverage allowed by other insurers.

The increases were recommended by Medical Reimbursement Services, the company that bills for Cape Elizabeth and other communities in southern Maine. Their guidelines recommend pricing for ambulance services be at or above amounts allowed by Medicare.

The increases in base fees also reflect Medicare's phasing out of coverage for additional services including oxygen, IV, EKG, defibrillation and airway tubes.

Medicare has decreased payments for these services by 40 percent, with planned elimination of coverage by 2006. At the same time Medicare has increased allowances for the base rate.

"If increases are not made to keep up with the increases the insurances are allowing, rescues will stand to lose monies they once received, said Shawn McPherson of Medical Reimbursement Services, in a letter to Cape Elizabeth Fire Chief Philip McGouldrick.

Here are the price changes as of Feb. 1:

Procedure          Charge     Charge
                              (as of Feb. 1, 2005)

BLS Base Rate      $275.00    $325.00
ALS 1 Emergency    $300.00    $400.00
ALS 2 Emergency    $350.00    $500.00