Metro East Sun

Illinois Representative Charlie Meier is pushing for legislation aimed at increasing funding for ambulance services in rural areas of the state. The bill, known as House Bill 4179, would allow for a voter referendum to raise the maximum levy for emergency service districts. Meier highlighted the challenges faced by rural areas, stating, "Our rural areas don’t have the funds to do the ambulance service... That is why this bill is so huge to us as we move forward with it."

The proposed legislation serves as a follow-up to House Bill 1740, which passed in the 2023 spring session and allowed for the creation of taxing districts for ambulance services that can span across municipal boundaries. If HB4179 is signed into law, it would enable the maximum levies in these districts to increase from 0.4% EAV to 0.8% EAV, subject to voter approval through a referendum.

Meier emphasized the inadequacy of federal funding from Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements to sustain ambulance services in many parts of Illinois. He pointed out that while these reimbursements cover some costs, they fall short of meeting the full expenses incurred by ambulance services.

City manager Chris Conrad of Highland, Illinois, echoed Meier's concerns, noting that the aging population and the higher percentage of Medicare and Medicaid calls result in lower funding for ambulance districts. Conrad explained, "Medicare and Medicaid are providing about 40 cents on the dollar for what it costs to provide that service... About 60-70% of our call volume is Medicare and Medicaid patients." He emphasized the importance of giving citizens in emergency service districts the choice to decide on funding levels above 0.4%.

House Bill 4179 has passed the Revenue and Finance Committee and is scheduled for a second hearing on the House Floor. Interested parties can follow the progress of HB4179 at ILGA.gov.

Representative Charlie Meier represents the 109th District, which includes portions of Bond, Clinton, Madison, St. Clair, and Washington counties. For more information, individuals can visit CharlieMeier.net or contact Rep. Meier’s district office at 618-651-0405.