Townships considering options, including private ambulance service
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
Responsibly providing fire and ambulance services at a cost taxpayers can afford is a burden that officials in Hamer, Liberty, Jackson, Paint, Penn, New Market and Washington townships are struggling with.
As contract negotiations continue between the townships and the city of Hillsboro for sustaining the current fire and EMS coverage, the townships have said they are examining all options available to them, and are trying to find a way to provide quality services for the protection of their constituents at a cost that is within their means.
For fire coverage, the townships have considered the possibility of creating their own fire district, or joining other existing districts. However, another option being considered for just EMS is potentially a private company.
E.A.S.T. Ambulance Service has been operating in Highland County for the past seven years. Owner David Haines said his company has a goal of serving the community, while looking for new opportunities to improve and expand. There have been no official talks between the company and elected officials, but some trustees have said they have taken a look at what E.A.S.T. has to offer.
"Yes, we would be interested, and we certainly are capable (of providing the services to the townships)," Haines said. "But there is sort of an unwritten, unspoken rule between (public fire/EMS departments) and private ambulance services. The last thing in the world we would want to do is start any controversy. If things get complicated, thanks, but no thanks."
E.A.S.T. primarily provides services to nursing homes and transportation to hospitals, but Robert Moore, director of business development, said their services are available to any private citizen who calls them. They bill like public ambulance services, accepting Medicare, Medicaid, insurance companies and direct private payment.
There have been no formal discussions between any township officials and the ambulance services, but they indicated that trustees have been collecting information on their options for EMS services.
Currently, the seven townships do not pay for EMS (emergency medical services) but the city does soft billing to the patients who are treated or transported. When the city began negotiating contracts with the townships earlier this year, in addition to proposing increases between 42 percent and 76.34 percent for the individual townships, a portion of the new contracts required payment for EMS services. Legal counsel for the townships, Highland County Prosecutor Jim Grandey, said it is not legal to pay for EMS funds out of a fire levy, unless EMS is included in the levy. [For more information on contract negotiations, see attached story.]
According to the most recent contract proposed by the city, EMS runs will cost an average of $637.35 for an average run, which will be charged to the townships after June 2011.
Moore, who has a background as a paramedic, said that EMT certification is overseen by the state of Ohio, and E.A.S.T. has to meet the same criteria and qualifications as EMTs working for a municipality. Moreover, Moore said their company can at least offer taxpayers options, and when a consumer has options, it results in better businesses and better services.
E.A.S.T. - which has locations in Leesburg and Hillsboro in Highland County and a branch in Georgetown in Brown County - has approximately 60 employees total. Moore said that the majority of their EMTs are members of area volunteer fire/squad departments as well.
Moore said that a difference between a private service and a non-profit service sometimes comes down to "the nickels and dimes."
"You don't build a budget on what you bill," he said. "You build a budget on what you know you're going to get. Right now, we know what's around 18 percent of what we bill."
Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Ralph Holt told The Highland County Press earlier this week that last year the city billed out approximately $1 million and only received back around $400,000.
Holt had previously said that because the city had not increased the rates to the townships as expenses grew, the citizens of Hillsboro have ended up paying for services to the townships through their safety levy. If they no longer provide the services to the townships, Holt has said, "The city no longer has the expense."
Paint Township Trustee Randy Mustard said that he has had discussions with E.A.S.T. informally, and during a Rocky Fork Alliance meeting this week, he brought up the possibility of considering privatley contracting EMS services.
"A lot of people say we have to have EMS, but they're hesitant about a private EMS," Mustard said. "We need a lot of people's input before we sit down and do something like that."
Mustard said that whether it's a private service, or with the city of Hillsboro, Paint Township does not have the capabilities to pay for the services. However, when the township trustees hold their monthly meeting, which has not yet been scheduled he said, Mustard would like E.A.S.T. to address the group.
"This is something that is really going to need to be discussed," he said.
The townships have said they are satisfied with the services currently being provided by Hillsboro Fire and Rescue. However, it is now coming at a cost they cannot afford. The city is saying providing the services to the townships has not been cost effective, and they need more funds to sustain the services.
Earlier this week, Mustard had told The Highland County Press, "From here on out, we need to start shopping and putting something else together, because we can't support Hillsboro."
Haines said the state of Ohio has a board that strictly oversees private ambulance companies, so there is state oversight and standards with which they must comply. For example, when gas prices go up, they are not permitted to pass the rising costs off on the customers.
Because they are "an efficient business," Moore said, they watch their spending and are always mindful to be fiscally responsible in setting their budget.
"We are an efficient operation, fiscally. If we need new units, we get new units. If we need personnel, we get personnel," he said. "But if we don't need units, don't need personnel, we don't get new units or personnel."
Presently the company has 13 paramedics, nine advanced EMTs and 23 basic EMTs.
"We're increasing those numbers," said E.A.S.T. administrator Mike Cluxton. "We're hiring at a time when there are layoffs of firefighters and EMTs. Next week, our numbers will increase. We're staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week and can provide services when we are needed."
E.A.S.T. has a dispatch center that is not unlike law enforcement dispatch centers. When a call is received at the center, the appropriate crew is then dispatched to the run. According to E.A.S.T., that means should they be contracted, they have the capability to be dispatched by Highland County's 911 system the same way they current police and fire departments are.
Haines, Cluxton and Moore said that the core of their business is treating people responsibly, fairly and with respect, particularly since many of their clientele are older nursing home patients.
"These are the people who built our society," Moore said. "They deserve our respect and they deserve our service. They continue to keep us in business. How can you not respect someone like that?"
Haines said that he wants his company to be able to give back to the community, whether through potentially contracting to the townships, or in continuing to provide quality services to their clients. Haines said that he has been in a position where community members of been good to him, and he wants to reciprocate. For example, Haines said that about a year ago they were issues billing to Medicare and the government recognizing their billing address, which is located in the Leesburg Industrial Park. After calls to the federal government were not effective in resolving the issue, he began contacting local officials. Haines said that he then received a call from Highland County Commissioner Tom Horst who suggested they contact his wife, Maggie Horst, who works for Congressman Mike Turner (R-Centerville). Haines said the matter was resolved the next day, and he is thankful they took an interest in helping him.
Cluxton said that public entities contracting with private companies for essential services is a trend that is increasing across the country.
"We're locally grown here," Cluxton said. "We care about the job here."
When he first went to work with Haines, Cluxton said he was told that "The number one thing here is the patient. That has kind of been our battle cry. You worry about the needs of the patient, and the other stuff comes later."
Responsibly providing fire and ambulance services at a cost taxpayers can afford is a burden that officials in Hamer, Liberty, Jackson, Paint, Penn, New Market and Washington townships are struggling with.
As contract negotiations continue between the townships and the city of Hillsboro for sustaining the current fire and EMS coverage, the townships have said they are examining all options available to them, and are trying to find a way to provide quality services for the protection of their constituents at a cost that is within their means.
For fire coverage, the townships have considered the possibility of creating their own fire district, or joining other existing districts. However, another option being considered for just EMS is potentially a private company.
E.A.S.T. Ambulance Service has been operating in Highland County for the past seven years. Owner David Haines said his company has a goal of serving the community, while looking for new opportunities to improve and expand. There have been no official talks between the company and elected officials, but some trustees have said they have taken a look at what E.A.S.T. has to offer.
"Yes, we would be interested, and we certainly are capable (of providing the services to the townships)," Haines said. "But there is sort of an unwritten, unspoken rule between (public fire/EMS departments) and private ambulance services. The last thing in the world we would want to do is start any controversy. If things get complicated, thanks, but no thanks."
E.A.S.T. primarily provides services to nursing homes and transportation to hospitals, but Robert Moore, director of business development, said their services are available to any private citizen who calls them. They bill like public ambulance services, accepting Medicare, Medicaid, insurance companies and direct private payment.
There have been no formal discussions between any township officials and the ambulance services, but they indicated that trustees have been collecting information on their options for EMS services.
Currently, the seven townships do not pay for EMS (emergency medical services) but the city does soft billing to the patients who are treated or transported. When the city began negotiating contracts with the townships earlier this year, in addition to proposing increases between 42 percent and 76.34 percent for the individual townships, a portion of the new contracts required payment for EMS services. Legal counsel for the townships, Highland County Prosecutor Jim Grandey, said it is not legal to pay for EMS funds out of a fire levy, unless EMS is included in the levy. [For more information on contract negotiations, see attached story.]
According to the most recent contract proposed by the city, EMS runs will cost an average of $637.35 for an average run, which will be charged to the townships after June 2011.
Moore, who has a background as a paramedic, said that EMT certification is overseen by the state of Ohio, and E.A.S.T. has to meet the same criteria and qualifications as EMTs working for a municipality. Moreover, Moore said their company can at least offer taxpayers options, and when a consumer has options, it results in better businesses and better services.
E.A.S.T. - which has locations in Leesburg and Hillsboro in Highland County and a branch in Georgetown in Brown County - has approximately 60 employees total. Moore said that the majority of their EMTs are members of area volunteer fire/squad departments as well.
Moore said that a difference between a private service and a non-profit service sometimes comes down to "the nickels and dimes."
"You don't build a budget on what you bill," he said. "You build a budget on what you know you're going to get. Right now, we know what's around 18 percent of what we bill."
Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Ralph Holt told The Highland County Press earlier this week that last year the city billed out approximately $1 million and only received back around $400,000.
Holt had previously said that because the city had not increased the rates to the townships as expenses grew, the citizens of Hillsboro have ended up paying for services to the townships through their safety levy. If they no longer provide the services to the townships, Holt has said, "The city no longer has the expense."
Paint Township Trustee Randy Mustard said that he has had discussions with E.A.S.T. informally, and during a Rocky Fork Alliance meeting this week, he brought up the possibility of considering privatley contracting EMS services.
"A lot of people say we have to have EMS, but they're hesitant about a private EMS," Mustard said. "We need a lot of people's input before we sit down and do something like that."
Mustard said that whether it's a private service, or with the city of Hillsboro, Paint Township does not have the capabilities to pay for the services. However, when the township trustees hold their monthly meeting, which has not yet been scheduled he said, Mustard would like E.A.S.T. to address the group.
"This is something that is really going to need to be discussed," he said.
The townships have said they are satisfied with the services currently being provided by Hillsboro Fire and Rescue. However, it is now coming at a cost they cannot afford. The city is saying providing the services to the townships has not been cost effective, and they need more funds to sustain the services.
Earlier this week, Mustard had told The Highland County Press, "From here on out, we need to start shopping and putting something else together, because we can't support Hillsboro."
Haines said the state of Ohio has a board that strictly oversees private ambulance companies, so there is state oversight and standards with which they must comply. For example, when gas prices go up, they are not permitted to pass the rising costs off on the customers.
Because they are "an efficient business," Moore said, they watch their spending and are always mindful to be fiscally responsible in setting their budget.
"We are an efficient operation, fiscally. If we need new units, we get new units. If we need personnel, we get personnel," he said. "But if we don't need units, don't need personnel, we don't get new units or personnel."
Presently the company has 13 paramedics, nine advanced EMTs and 23 basic EMTs.
"We're increasing those numbers," said E.A.S.T. administrator Mike Cluxton. "We're hiring at a time when there are layoffs of firefighters and EMTs. Next week, our numbers will increase. We're staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week and can provide services when we are needed."
E.A.S.T. has a dispatch center that is not unlike law enforcement dispatch centers. When a call is received at the center, the appropriate crew is then dispatched to the run. According to E.A.S.T., that means should they be contracted, they have the capability to be dispatched by Highland County's 911 system the same way they current police and fire departments are.
Haines, Cluxton and Moore said that the core of their business is treating people responsibly, fairly and with respect, particularly since many of their clientele are older nursing home patients.
"These are the people who built our society," Moore said. "They deserve our respect and they deserve our service. They continue to keep us in business. How can you not respect someone like that?"
Haines said that he wants his company to be able to give back to the community, whether through potentially contracting to the townships, or in continuing to provide quality services to their clients. Haines said that he has been in a position where community members of been good to him, and he wants to reciprocate. For example, Haines said that about a year ago they were issues billing to Medicare and the government recognizing their billing address, which is located in the Leesburg Industrial Park. After calls to the federal government were not effective in resolving the issue, he began contacting local officials. Haines said that he then received a call from Highland County Commissioner Tom Horst who suggested they contact his wife, Maggie Horst, who works for Congressman Mike Turner (R-Centerville). Haines said the matter was resolved the next day, and he is thankful they took an interest in helping him.
Cluxton said that public entities contracting with private companies for essential services is a trend that is increasing across the country.
"We're locally grown here," Cluxton said. "We care about the job here."
When he first went to work with Haines, Cluxton said he was told that "The number one thing here is the patient. That has kind of been our battle cry. You worry about the needs of the patient, and the other stuff comes later."