Petition asks city to repeal LifeRide program in Broken Arrow

By John Dobberstein, Editor

An online petition has begun circulating that is asking the city of Broken Arrow to eliminate LifeRide, a program that covers the cost of ambulance services for residents who utilize the Broken Arrow Fire Department for transport.

The petition on Change.org cites several reasons for asking the city to repeal the ordinance authorizing the program, calling it an “unfair financial burden” by requiring residents — including non-residents who work in Broken Arrow — to pay for medical expenses incurred by others. 

Residents used to have the option of opting out of the program, but that policy was changed in 2023 as the city worked to stabilize the program’s balance sheet. 

Petition organizers complain the program brings “double-taxation issues” because the city already collects sales tax for emergency services. 

The petition also alleges “mismanagement of funds” with the program because the city’s billing practices have led to deficits. ”If the city properly billed users instead of forcing all residents to pay, the deficit could be removed without unfair mandatory fees,” the petition says. 

The city has disagreed with assertions that LifeRide is a tax, but it is rather a fee. 

LifeRide costs $6.45 monthly per household for those inside the city limits and $7.50 per month for those outside the city limits but within the Broken Arrow fence line. The monthly fee will show up as a line item on utility bills. 

The average emergency response and ambulance transport costs $1,500, the city asserts. Insurance may cover a portion of this charge, but subscribers to LifeRide will pay nothing after a claim is submitted to their health insurance provider, the city says. 

LifeRide savings only apply when EMS/ambulance services and transportation are provided by the Broken Arrow Fire Department. Services provided by any other city’s ambulance service or private ambulance services are not covered. 

Patients with LifeRide in hospitals or other medical facilities that are told they will be transferred to another facility are not covered under the LifeRide program unless BAFD transports the patient.

According to information provided by the city, during fiscal year 2017, when participation in LifeRide was at its highest, the revenue generated from the subscription program fees was $1 million less than the cost to operate the program. 

That deficit gap continued to grow each year as the participation rate continued to shrink. Based on a 2022 study of operating expenses and revenue generated from the LifeRide fees, the cost to run the EMS department was approximately $8.5 million. Collection of LifeRide fees that same year totaled $4.6 million, leaving a deficit of $3.9 million.