Snoqualmie committee reviews switch to TriMed for backup ambulance coverage

Snoqualmie’s Public Safety Committee discussed agenda bill AB 25-042 on ambulance services during its evening meeting; Deputy Chief Brown said the bill recognizes TriMed as the City’s contracted backup ambulance provider following a countywide competitive process.

The discussion matters because TriMed replaces AMR as the contracted secondary ambulance service for the zone and, according to Brown, the agreement “comes at no cost to the city.” Brown told the committee that TriMed will be called to supplement city crews when Snoqualmie personnel are transporting patients or otherwise committed and that the contract includes response requirements intended to ensure timely coverage.

Brown said King County fire chiefs put the zone’s ambulance service up for request for proposal last year, and TriMed was selected to replace AMR. He told the committee the contract includes a required response time target of 25 minutes and language tied to a 90th-percentile measure; fees for delayed responses exist in the contract language but Brown said the city has not incurred penalties so far. He also said TriMed obtains revenue through its patient transports rather than from the city.

Council Member Cotton asked whether Fall City (the lead agency that will oversee the interlocal contract) will send response statistics to Snoqualmie automatically. Brown said Fall City does not automatically send monthly reports but that the city can request them; he agreed to ask Fall City Chief Pat Ledoux to provide reports on request and said quarterly reporting could be arranged.

Council Member Christiansen raised whether TriMed response times would be separated from Snoqualmie’s so the city’s own averages would not be affected; Brown indicated quarterly breakouts could be provided. Christiansen also asked whether a pattern of delayed TriMed responses could jeopardize Snoqualmie’s upcoming accreditation; Brown said it would not and the chief concurred.

Mayor Amir Ross asked about a monthly $7,500 payment shown in the contract packet. Brown said that fee is paid by TriMed to Fall City for overseeing the contract and tracking response statistics. When asked how TriMed is paid for transports, Brown said transports are billed to the patient.

No formal vote on AB 25-042 is recorded in the transcript; the record shows committee discussion and members asking that response statistics be made available on a quarterly basis or by request.