Austintown Fire Department is joining in on a State wide initiative in writing letters of support to the state legislature to change the law on ambulance reimbursement for non-transport treatment.

Austintown has written a letter of support to Ohio legislatures to change the billing rules when it comes to ambulance callouts without transport.

According to Township Trustee Robert Santos, as it stands, if a patient is to call an ambulance for service, but refuse to be transported to the hospital, they will not be billed.

However, Santos says when this happens, the township loses out on money. That's why trustees are writing a letter to state legislators to change the law so patients will still be billed even if they aren't transported.

The problem isn't new, but it impacts communities like Austintown and other communities for billing when an ambulance is dispatched.

Santos tells 21 News that should this change go into effect, residents should still not hesitate to call 911 if they feel they need medical attention.

"We would not deter anyone from calling 911. We're not going to bill you for a band-aid, but we're not an alternative for you not wanting to wait at the ER," Santos said.

A motion to approve the letter to state legislators is on the agenda for the Austintown trustees meeting Monday night at 6:00 p.m. at 82 Ohltown Road.

In 2018, Pennsylvania passed similar legislation that allowed reimbursement for EMS calls that did not require transport.