City leaders say the proposed fees could save taxpayers millions and push care facilities to improve how they assist residents

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati City Council is weighing a proposal to charge nursing homes and long-term care facilities up to $1,000 for each non-emergency lift assist call to the Cincinnati Fire Department, a change that city officials say could save taxpayers millions and encourage facilities to improve resident care.

The fire department handles approximately 1,600 lift assist calls each year from nursing homes and care facilities, WCPO reported. These responses typically involve helping residents who have fallen or need help getting up from a chair or bed, with no medical care required, the proposal states.

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“These are not health emergencies. In other words, somebody might have fallen on the ground and rather than the institution lifting them up themselves, they call the fire department and have the fire department do it,” Council Member Mark Jeffreys, who is proposing the fee structure, said. “The purpose behind it is, you know, principle, it’s just not right for folks to push costs on taxpayers.”

Council Member Jeff Cramerding supports the proposal, seeing it as a significant potential revenue source for the city and a practical tool for spotting facilities that may be falling short on resident care.

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