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Hot Springs awards exclusive ambulance franchise to LifeNet as leaders raise concerns about psychiatric transport capacity
Summary
The Hot Springs Board of Directors adopted an ordinance granting an exclusive five-year ambulance franchise to LifeNet Inc., while directors and staff raised concerns about capacity for inpatient psychiatric transports after a local hospital announced plans to stop inpatient psychiatric services.
The Hot Springs City Board of Directors on June 17 adopted Ordinance O-25-28, awarding an exclusive five-year franchise for emergency and nonemergency ambulance services to LifeNet Inc.
The board voted to approve the agreement after the city’s earlier top-ranked proposer failed to win sufficient votes; city staff then negotiated terms with LifeNet. The franchise, which the city says is self-sustaining and will receive no city funding, requires LifeNet to maintain specified response levels and community outreach commitments.
City staff and directors told the board the selection followed a request for proposals issued Nov. 19, 2024, that drew four bidders. A selection committee ranked Survival Flight EMS first, LifeNet second, Pafford Medical Services third and Southern Paramedic Service fourth; the board previously considered but did not adopt a Survival Flight franchise, a staff report said.
“We will forward that information to the city manager and the fire chief, and then we will get that disseminated out to you all,” Alicia Haley,…
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