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Board grants Leopard Transport limited basic-life-support certificate for oxygen-dependent transports
Summary
Lake County commissioners unanimously approved a limited-scope basic life-support Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (COPCN) for Leopard Transport of Central Florida to carry oxygen-dependent patients on specified interfacility and ancillary trips.
LAKE COUNTY — The Lake County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously March 25 to grant Leopard Transport of Central Florida a limited-scope basic life-support Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (COPCN), allowing the company to perform specified ambulance transports in the county.
John Simpson of the Office of Fire Rescue told the board the county is a "certificate of public convenience and necessity state" under Florida law (Chapter 401) and that a COPCN is required for ambulance licensure. Simpson said the county's EMS authority evaluated Leopard Transport's application, completed inspections and determined the company met state criteria.
Simpson told commissioners Leopard is a local veteran-owned company that has provided paratransit services in Lake County for seven years, serves hospitals and nursing homes in the area, and recently acquired three ambulances and is building a 9,000-square-foot headquarters and maintenance facility in Groveland. He described a community need: "There is a need in our community for these oxygen dependent transports," Simpson said, noting paratransit firms cannot provide oxygen or medical monitoring and licensed ambulances at the basic life-support level can.
Under the certificate approved by the board, Leopard may provide BLS interfacility transports restricted to patients leaving a licensed hospital to a private residence or licensed nursing facility; transports from nursing facilities for scheduled ancillary care appointments; and dialysis transports when medical necessity requires ambulance transport. Simpson said Leopard has met the county's application and equipment requirements and agreed to county oversight.
The board recorded no public opposition during the hearing. Commissioners approved the COPCN by unanimous voice vote among the three members present. County staff said they will continue oversight and inspections as required by state and county rules.
