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Poll: $20 to $25 a fair amount to pay for recertification By
JOHN HULTGREN LOUISVILLE — In a recent poll, almost half of Kentucky's emergency medical technicians and paramedics said they believe that $20 - $25 is a fair amount to pay for recertification or relicensure. The poll, conducted during the past 20 days on the Kentucky EMS Connection, asked "What do you feel is a fair amount for KBEMS to charge for EMT recertification or paramedic relicensure." Close to twenty-five percent felt a fair fee was in the $10 - $15 range, whereas another near twenty-five percent felt a fair fee was over $30. 437 readers took the poll. The results were:
The Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services has proposed raising almost all fees, in some cases substantially. KBEMS has appointed a task force to review their fees, and many EMS associations have been invited to participate. The task force is responsible for reviewing the fiscal impact of fee increases. KBEMS, created by legislation in 2000 to replace the Kentucky EMS Branch, has never been adequately funded. Many feel that adequate funding should come from the state, rather than through fees collected from EMS providers. Some also worry that any additional revenue generated by fees may lead to a reduction in the amount of money provided by the state -- since the state is in the midst of a serious budget shortfall -- and that this would lead to more fee increases. But it's unlikely Kentucky is going to give KBEMS additional money unless a crisis develops. Nearby, Tennessee funds approximately 80% of its EMS regulatory costs through fees. Indiana, however, charges no certification or recertification fees.
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