Bixby Launches New Emergency Transport Subscription

Driving around Bixby, folks may have noticed some new vehicles on the road.

"January first, we hit the ground running on New Year's Day with two ambulances," said Bixby Emergency Medical Services Chief Matt Dickerson. 

The city added medical services to its response team.

"We were already doing it with our firetrucks, and now we're just completing that service all the way to the hospital," Dickerson said. 

With the new shiny trucks came a new program.

"This is an insurance program that helps you just not have to worry about the payments afterwards. You're in an emergency situation, and that should be your focus," said Dickerson. 

He says Bixby Cares ensures those who need medical transport via ambulance don't pay any out-of-pocket fees.

"This just takes one less concern away in that time of need or that crisis that you're facing at that moment," he said.

Folks in Bixby who receive a water bill are already enrolled in the program. They'll see a $7.50 monthly fee, a charge that was carried over from when the city used EMSA services and increased after voters approved the program in a 2021 bond issue.

"I think it's going to give people a lot more security and a lot more reassurance that whenever they do give us a call that we're going to be able to provide them that care, and they won't really have to worry about necessarily the payment system or anything like that," said Bixby firefighter and advanced EMT Easton Meaux. 

Those who live in rural areas and don't receive water bills from the city but reside in the Bixby licensed response area can also enroll in the program. They can enroll on the city of Bixby's website and will be charged a $90 annual fee. 

Meaux said a program like this helps everyone focus on the care that's needed.

"We see patients on the worst day of their lives all the time; I mean, that's kind of the whole point of our service, so we get out there, and we just want to make sure that we take care of people."

If you pay a water bill to the city of Bixby, you are automatically enrolled each year without an opt-out option. Those who pay a water bill elsewhere will need to make the annual payment each year to stay enrolled. 

A link to more information and frequently asked questions about Bixby Cares can be found here.