Mokena Fire District to Charge Care Facilities for Lift Assists

Mokena Fire Protection District Meeting | December 9, 2025

Article Summary: The Mokena Fire Protection District Board has approved a new ordinance authorizing fees for lift assist services provided to local care facilities. The measure targets non-transport calls at nursing homes, which have utilized the service more than 40 times this year.

Mokena Fire Protection District Key Points:

• New Ordinance: The board unanimously approved Ordinance No. 2025-5, permitting the charging of care facilities for lift assists.

• High Volume: As of December 4, the district had responded to 43 lift assists where no patient was transported at nursing homes within its jurisdiction.

• Fee Structure: The fee is set at one-half of the current Ground Emergency Medical Transport (GEMT) rate, estimated to be approximately $1,500 per lift assist.

The Mokena Fire Protection District Board of Trustees on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, adopted a new financial policy allowing the district to bill nursing homes for lift assistance calls that do not result in a hospital transport.

During the regular meeting, the board discussed the frequency of calls to care facilities where fire personnel are needed solely to lift a patient. According to district data, crews had responded to 43 such incidents at nursing homes within the jurisdiction by December 4.

Under the newly approved Ordinance No. 2025-5, the district will charge facilities for these specific service calls. The rate has been established at 50% of the current Ground Emergency Medical Transport (GEMT) rate. Officials estimated that under current rates, the charge would be approximately $1,500 per lift assist.

Trustee Robert Burkhardt made the motion to accept the ordinance, which was seconded by Trustee Ken Blank. The measure passed with a unanimous roll call vote by the trustees present.