COURTLAND

A fee of $380 is proposed for people in Southampton County who call an ambulance for treatment, but then decline transport to a hospital.

The first reading of this idea was made during the county Board of Supervisors meeting on Monday. Administrator Michael Johnson reminded the panel that ambulance transport fees had been raised this past summer, which was the first time that had been done in a decade. Further, the billing and collecting for the County is to be done by Ambulance Medical Billing.

Yet, Johnson noted that there’s not a charge for patients who get treatment from an ambulance service, yet decide against being taken to a medical clinic for more care.

“Many localities, including the City of Franklin, assess such a fee to recover the expenses incurred when a patient refuses transport after being treated by the service provider,” he told the board. “It is my understanding that Medicare and many private insurance companies will cover the cost of the patient treatment without transport, if a locality has adopted an ordinance imposing the charge.”

During discussion, Jerusalem District supervisor Dr. Alan Edwards asked how was that amount decided. He was told that figure was suggested based on what the City of Franklin already charges for the same reason.

Franklin District supervisor Barry Porter called for the supervisors to authorize Johnson to advertise the matter in a public hearing, which was agreed on unanimously. The hearing will be during the next board meeting, which is on Monday, Nov. 25, starting at 7 p.m.

Speaking of hearings, the board members also agreed to the creation of the Appleton Agricultural and Forestal District, as well as the expansion of the ones for Flaggy Run, Applewhite and Porter House.

In other business, it was announced that the Virginia Department of Historic Resources has scheduled a public information meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at 6 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors Meeting Room. The representative(s) will present and explain the nomination process and the meaning of a historic district designation. Public comment will be passed along to the State Review Board and Board of Historic Resources, which will decide about making a recommendation to the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register. The State Boards will meet at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12, in Richmond.