VB Rescue Council’s

Position Statements

Rescue Council Position
– Billing for service (2018)

The Council of Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squads, Inc. stands firm in its resolve that the City of Virginia Beach should not charge for our emergency medical transport services until we, at a future time and as a collective body, create an agreement between the City of Virginia Beach, Rescue Council and all associated Volunteer organizations.

RFP: EMS Revenue Recovery Research and Feasibility Analysis (September 2023)

As the costs of ambulances and upkeep continue to soar, the Virginia Beach Rescue Council is exploring ways to generate revenue for the volunteer rescue squads without negatively impacting the community. The Rescue Council is in the process of issuing an RFP (request for proposal) for a consultant to conduct a research study and feasibility analysis report on a possible service billing structure. Commonly known as EMS billing (ambulance billing/compassionate billing), it could serve as a potential option as a funding source to assist rescue squads with rising costs to upgrade current assets and purchase new ambulances to add to the existing fleet.

Historically, the City of Virginia Beach and/or Rescue Council has not, and currently does not, conduct EMS billing or revenue recovery. Virginia Beach is the only municipality in Hampton Roads that offers ambulance services free of charge to residents and guests. Each member agency of the Rescue Council owns its own ambulances and assets, conducts its own fundraising, and has its own organizational identity and internal governance. Together, the volunteers of the VB Rescue system provide a value of $9.5 million in services each year.

The Rescue Council and City of Virginia Beach have not yet fully evaluated, and/or considered for approval, the matter of EMS billing. Through this RFP, the Rescue Council seeks to gain as much knowledge to be fully informed and educated on this topic to make a confident decision about a path forward to keep pace with a growing city and rising call volumes.

Click Here to view the RFP

Deadline to Respond: October 20, 2023 Questions? Contact RFP@vbrescuecouncil.org

Rescue Council Position
– Ambulance Ownership (2018)

The Council of Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squads, Inc. stands firm in its resolve that our Volunteer Organizations should remain the sole provider of state certified ambulances for the provision of emergency medical transport services within the City of Virginia Beach under the umbrella of the Department of EMS.

Rescue Council Position
– City Support

It is the position of Rescue Council that the city’s volunteer rescue squads need and request the City to continue providing all services it has traditionally provided to the squads, including:

  • Notification of member status changes
  • Notifications of vehicle status changes
  • Administrative support for biannually renewing volunteer rescue squad agency licenses
  • Monthly reports showing addresses to which squad ambulances have arrived on scene

Rescue Council Position
– Unfunded Mandates

It is the position of Rescue Council that the city’s volunteer rescue squads are not able and do not wish to absorb any new unfunded mandates.  The path to accomplishing new initiatives that impose expenses on the volunteer rescue squads should be for the City to gain Rescue Council’s prior consent.

Rescue Council Position
– EMS Duty Physician Program

It is the position of Rescue Council that the City should robustly support the EMS Duty Physician Program and advise Rescue Council whether the City wants to fund and otherwise achieve this directly or via the volunteer rescue squads.

Rescue Council Position
– EVMS Partnership Programs

It is the position of Rescue Council that the City should robustly support EVMS partnership programs and advise Rescue Council whether the City wants to fund and otherwise achieve this directly or via the volunteer rescue squads.

Rescue Council Position
– Operational Medical Director

It is the position of Rescue Council that the City should seek Rescue Council’s endorsement prior to appointing any non-incumbent Operational Medical Director.