PEI Government Announces Cap on Ambulance User Fee

Health Minister Chester Gillan today announced that effective immediately a cap of $150 will be put in place for ambulance services where a patient requires multiple trips in order to reach the appropriate medical facility.

On PEI when a call is initiated as an emergency or urgent call through 911 for ambulance service, the patient may be transported to the nearest community hospital. The attending physician might then assess the patient as requiring care at a referral hospital resulting in a case of multiple patient transport and a fee to the patient of $150 per trip. This new fee cap ensures that a patient will now pay a maximum of $150 per day regardless of the number of ambulance trips the patient requires in one day.

“I’m very pleased that we’re able to cap this fee for Islanders when they place an emergency or urgent call through 911 for ambulance services,” says Health Minister Chester Gillan. “Under the current fee system, if a patient requires multiple trips by ambulance to get to the most appropriate medical centre, they have to pay $150 per trip. This could add up to $300 or $450 in fees for one day - which can be a significant financial burden and stress on the patient and their families. We want to alleviate some of that financial burden and stress.”