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Message: [QUOTE="vtcwbuff, post: 2807331, member: 1197"] RMB - I found this when I googled Lifestar cost - [B]The cost of an air ambulance bill is split into two main parts, according to a study completed by the Montana Legislature. First, a liftoff fee, which ranges from $8,500 to $15,200 in Montana, plus a per-mile charge for the flight, which ranges from $26 to $133 a mile.Jan 18, 2016[/B] Despite 4oK being a large chunk of money, I'm not sure it's a huge rip off. For instance Hartford Hospital operates 2 Lifestar helicopters, a BC-117 and an EC -145. I checked some on line helicopter prices. The older is a BC-117 that sells used for about $2.2 mil and their newer EC-145 costs $4.4 mil. So the investment in equipment is pretty big. Add to that whatever the expense of maintenance, docking, insurance etc. Then you need to look at crew. I don't know how Lifestar crew support works, is there only one crew per helicopter (even though they are available 24/7) or are there several crews? I do know that there are 5 crew members (pilot/mech/comm/flight nurse/respiratory therapist) on board. I suspect that they are well paid and deservedly so. Another factor is usage. Fewer flights probably mean higher cost and that is possibly the case in MT. That's assuming the hospital has some sort of business plan (other than "mo' money) for the service. The Hartford hospital web site says that they transport around 1000 patients annually. In 2012 it had an operating budget of $7 mil that was partially (20%) subsidized by the state. Even with the subsidy the program operates well into the red - at least in 2012. [/QUOTE]

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