Paramedics tax is cheap insurance

Paramedic emergency services are not something most Marin County residents think about very often. When they do, it is likely during a life-threatening situation.

Thanks to a system that has aligned all county paramedics with fire departments in each community for many years, those in need have long had access to a fast, reliable and affordable service that clearly helps save as many lives as possible.

In the June 7 election, some residents will consider extending a parcel tax to continue that level of service by voting on Measure H (Larkspur), Measure I (Ross), Measure J (San Anselmo), Measure K (Kentfield) and Measure L (Sleepy Hollow).

The communities are all part of the Ross Valley Paramedic Authority, which is staffed by paramedic firefighters in departments covering those areas.

The tax will raise the cost $3 per year (to $94.50 beginning next year) for five years. That escalation is $1 less than the last approval, which was passed in 2018.

Marin County Fire Department Chief Jason Weber says the reduction is the result of a highly efficient system that is cost-effective for residents.

“(The RVPA) has no unfunded pension liability,” Weber said.

“The fund has been extremely well-managed since it began in 1982.”

Weber points out that the system is much more affordable to residents who need emergency care than private ambulance services in other places. Most of the time in Marin, a resident's personal insurance covers the cost of ambulance care.

National news has covered the “sticker shock” of private ambulance care, as well as the follow-up of collection agencies bankrupting some Americans.

That's not an issue with Marin's system.

Weber also points out that the Ross Valley authority, with its connection to MarinHealth Medical Center, does more to initiate crucial communication

In cases where minutes matter, that can save a life.

than a private ambulance service. The equipment on the truck is connected to the hospital's database. That means doctors and nurses at the medical center can prepare for the patient as paramedics initiate care and transportation in the field.

In cases where minutes matter, that can save a life.

Additionally, the connection with MarinHealth means the feedback loop between cutting edge health care and paramedics is immediate. Weber says it streamlines the crucial step of allowing doctors to turn the latest research into training for paramedics.

“As a system, we are really at the top of the market,” Weber said.

The proposed tax extension is per residential living unit or 1,500 square feet of commercial space. There is no exemption for senior citizens. By contracting Larkspur for financial management, hiring an outside firm for collections and spreading administration duties between the local fire chiefs, administration costs are reduced.

The combination of care and affordability makes Marin's system one worth funding. Keeping the cost at around $100 per year per household makes it inexpensive insurance, covering onthe-spot medical care and safe transport to an emergency room.

The Marin IJ editorial board supports the tax and encourages residents in San Anselmo, Sleepy Hollow,

Ross, Kentfield and Larkspur to vote yes on measures H, I, J, K and L in the June 7 election.