Some of the once-free services provided by Nature Coast Emergency Medical Services now come with a price tag.

According to our partners at the Citrus Chronicle, the nonprofit first-responder started charging for lift assistance, medical alarm calls and calls in which the patient refuses transport back in January.

It also raised its base rate for an ambulance ride from $500 to $545 — moves it says are necessary to offset increasing costs to provide the services.

Nature Coast EMS will charge $125 for lift assists and transport refusals, and $100 for medical alarm calls. The new fees are expected to generate approximately $100,000 annually.

Mike Hall, Executive Director for Nature Coast EMS, said his organization responded to roughly 1,800 lift-assist calls, 500 medical alarm calls and 1,100 refusal to transport from home calls. Those calls account for approximately 16 percent of its call volume.

According to Hall, Nature Coast responded to 22,000 calls for service in 2015, and transported about 17,000 patients.