Lake Mead visitors needing ambulances can expect to get billed for hospital ride

If your next visit to Lake Mead ends in the back of an ambulance, don't expect a free ride.

Starting Memorial Day weekend, Lake Mead National Recreation Area will begin billing people who are transported in National Park Service ambulances.

Most patients will be billed between $700 to $800, depending on the level of care provided, plus $18 per mile for the trip to the hospital.

Lake Mead spokesman Andrew Muñoz said billing for ambulance service is common practice among other medical response agencies, including some that answer calls in the recreation area.

Visitors will continue to receive first aid and other basic emergency services free.

The National Park Service operates three ambulances in the 1.5 million acre recreation area. One is stationed at the marina, beach and boat ramp closest to Boulder City, another at Temple Bar in Arizona and the third downstream of Hoover Dam at Lake Mohave's Cottonwood Cove.

Each year, the recreation area draws about 7.3 million visitors, and emergency personnel respond to about 300 medical calls that require ambulance transports.

Not every call involves a near-drowning or a boating accident, Muñoz said.

"We see everything from vehicle accidents to someone having trouble breathing to someone cutting their foot on the beach. We see the gamut."

Muñoz said the park service set its new ambulance rates based on the average amount charged by other emergency responders in the area.

Money collected from patients will go back into the emergency services program at Lake Mead to pay for medical training, equipment and ambulance maintenance.

Contact reporter Henry Brean at hbrean@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0350.