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County grants Leopard Transport limited-scope ambulance certificate to carry oxygen-dependent patients
Summary
The Board approved a limited-scope basic life support (BLS) certificate of public convenience and necessity for Leopard Transport Central Florida, allowing licensed ambulances to transport oxygen-dependent patients for specified interfacility and scheduled care trips; the vote was unanimous.
The Lake County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved issuing a limited-scope basic life support certificate of public convenience and necessity (COPCN) to Leopard Transport Central Florida on March 25.
John Simpson of the Office of Fire Rescue presented the application, saying Leopard Transport has operated paratransit services countywide for seven years and had passed county and state inspection criteria required for a limited BLS ambulance license. Simpson said the county’s EMS division evaluated the application, inspected equipment, and found Leopard met application requirements and accepted county oversight.
The COPCN is limited in scope: Leopard is authorized to provide BLS interfacility transportation restricted to patients discharged from licensed hospitals to a residence or nursing facility, transports from residential nursing facilities for scheduled ancillary-care appointments, and dialysis transports when ambulance transport meets medical necessity. Simpson said oxygen can only be provided in a licensed ambulance and that current paratransit providers cannot provide oxygen or medical monitoring.
Leopard Transport has acquired three ambulances and is building a 9,000-square-foot headquarters and maintenance facility in Groveland near the intersection of County Road 19 and County Road 207 close to the Turnpike entrance. The presenter said Leopard’s fee schedule is consistent with county rates and that Leopard has a history of financial stability and existing relationships with hospitals and nursing facilities.
Simpson noted that Rightway Transport currently holds a limited-scope COPCN in Lake County and that Rightway’s renewal will be considered by the board next month. After a public hearing with no speakers, the board voted to grant Leopard the limited BLS COPCN; commissioners did not add conditions beyond routine county oversight.
The board’s action allows Leopard to begin the restricted BLS transports once state licensure and any remaining administrative steps are completed.
