Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns EMSA?
EMSA is a public trust authority of the Tulsa and Oklahoma City governments.
How many ambulances does EMSA own?
Why do I see EMSA ambulances parked at several locations around town?
What is the most common type of medical emergency?
How fast is EMSA required to respond?
In Oklahoma City and Tulsa, EMSA is required to respond to Priority 1 calls within 10 minutes and 59 seconds 90 percent of the time. For Priority 2 calls, EMSA is required to respond within 24 minutes and 59 seconds 90 percent of the time.
Priority 1 calls are critical situations, such as heart attacks, strokes, drownings and traumatic motor vehicle collisions.
Priority 2 calls are non-life-threatening situations such as, falls, broken limbs and minor injury motor vehicle collisions.
For the suburbs of the metro areas, EMSA must respond to Priority 1 calls within 11 minutes and 59 seconds 90 percent of the time, and 24 minutes and 59 seconds 90 percent of the time for Priority 2 calls.
The Tulsa-area suburbs include Bixby, Jenks and Sand Springs. The Oklahoma City-area suburbs include Edmond, Lake Aluma, Nichols Hills, The Village, Valley Brook, and Arcadia.
When I call for an ambulance, why does the fire department come too?
How is EMSA funded?
About 85 percent of EMSA’s operating budget comes from patient billing revenues. The rest is covered primarily through EMSA’s EMSAcare subscription program via Rate Stabization Funds in the City of Tulsa and City of Oklahoma City. Membership fees come from subscribers who enroll in the program directly with EMSA or indirectly through a monthly EMSAcare fee placed on their city utility/water bill.
EMSA receives no general fund tax dollars from the cities of Oklahoma City or Tulsa. However, a few cities which EMSA serves still choose to provide funds through general fund tax dollars.
Due to inadequate reimbursement by Medicare and the cost of providing services to uninsured patients, most ambulance providers are unable to operate on patient billing revenues alone. But, EMSA’s EMSAcare program fills the gap, providing an affordable, stable funding mechanism for citizens while minimizing or eliminating general fund tax subsidies.
How does EMSA set its rates?
EMSA Rates are set by the EMSA Board of Trustees and require approval by the Oklahoma City and Tulsa City Councils.
What are EMSA Rates?
In accordance with the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1-725.1 of Title 63, EMSA shall make available to the public, in a single document, either electronically or by posting conspicuously on the provider’s website if one exists, their health care prices.
Health care price means the cash price that EMSA will charge a patient for health care services that will be rendered.
HCPC is Healthcare Common Procedural Coding referenced below.
HCPC Code | HCPC Description | Health Care Price |
A0425 |
Mileage |
$19.00 Per Mile |
A0426 |
Advance Life Support Non-Emergency |
$900.00 |
A0427 |
Advance Life Support Emergency |
$1,300.00 |
A0428 |
Basic Life Support Non-Emergency |
$900.00 |
A0429 |
Basic Life Support Emergency |
$1,300.00 |
A0433 |
Advance Life Support Level 2 |
$1,300.00 |
A0434 |
Specialty Care Transport |
$1,300.00 |