However, commercial insurance companies often pay 80 percent to 100 percent of any charged ambulance fee. “We need the flexibility to set rates according to changes in the market rate,” Compton said.įor example, if the county’s ambulance rate was $400 and the Medicare rate for our area was $250, then Grady EMS would only be able to collect the $250 and have to write off the remainder. He said he wanted commissioners to be able to explain to citizens that even if the dollar amount of the rate increases after September, patients will not face a larger out-of-pocket cost.Ĭompton explained that there are 4 types of patients: those covered by Medicare, Medicaid, commercial insurance or who have the ability to self-pay with cash and the uninsured. The contract just specifies that any rate Grady EMS sets for ambulance transport should not exceed 250 percent of Medicaid reimbursement rate.Ĭompton spoke about how Grady EMS would set rates going forward. “We’re trying to come up with a rate fair to the ambulance service, not place an undue burden on patients and not be totally beyond our control,” Moseley said. County Attorney Moseley said the contract still gave county commissioners some leverage. Since the county’s ambulance service will now be private, it will be up to Grady EMS to set transport rates and collect money on those bills, which had previously been the county’s responsibility. Compton said he would like to be able to use first responders to drive a private ambulance if needed and be insured to to so.
matches what firefighters have, for the sake of familiarity. The contract was later amended to reflect that desire to continue the relationship with the county’s first responders.Ĭompton said one of the things he discussed with McCann was that the new EMS would strive for common equipment purchases, so that EMS equipment like stretchers etc. Grady EMS Vice-president Bill Compton said he met with Fire and Rescue Chief Charlie McCann Tuesday and said he hoped to continue that relationship with first responders. County Administrator Gary Breedlove says work needed on the EMS building on Airport Road.Ĭommissioner Oliver Sellers said he believed the county’s volunteer medical first responders were important in a large county and wanted to know whether the private ambulance service would still work with the volunteers.
#BILL COMPTON GRADY EMS CONTACT INFORMATION UPGRADE#
Grady will have to carry workers compensation insuranceĭecatur County upgrade EMS facility to meet local building codes and provide adequate EMS housing.Grady will have to carry multiple $1 million-plus liability insurance policies, with Decatur County government named as an additional insured party.County Administrator Gary Breedlove said he discussed with Grady EMS staff that having three ambulances “ready to go” also meant that at least one backup ambulance needed to be in place. Grady EMS is required by the contract to have three ambulances ready to go at all times.Grady EMS keep records, provide county with data such as response time, certifications.Grady EMS is proposing to buy gas for use in ambulances using Decatur County’s wholesale gas rate Grady EMS would pay the county a five-cent administrative fee on top of the wholesale rate.
Ambulance “boxes” are good 10-15 years, however the trucks wear out after 4-5 years, according to Breedlove. The refurbished trucks will still belong to Decatur County and be leased to Grady EMS for a nominal fee, the county administrator said. New ambulances will be brought in for use while Decatur County’s existing ambulances will be refitted over the first 2 years of the contract. Current EMS staff met with Grady EMS officials Tuesday morning to make acquaintances. Current employees will have to interview and re-apply for a position with the new agency. The new department is expected to have 27 employees, a mix of full-time and part-time EMTs and paramedics. The new privately-run department will operate as Decatur Emergency Medical Services (no “County” in the name). On Tuesday night, Decatur County commissioners unanimously approved a contract with EMS Grady of Atlanta for the company to privately operate the county’s ambulance service.ĭecatur County will pay EMS Grady $250k annually beginning in September 2014 The contract term will be for 5 years the contract can be renewed or modified or not at that time.
0 kommentar(er)
