Baker County staff review ambulance service area plan; ordinance changes on backup providers and nonemergency transport remain in work session

County staff presented a revised Ambulance Service Area plan and draft ordinance updates to the Baker County Board of Commissioners, explaining changes requested by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and new language to allow backup emergency coverage through contracts between the assigned emergency provider and a licensed subcontractor.

The presentation, delivered by county staff, said OHA provided a “further development required” letter with required and recommended edits. The draft plan was reorganized so required items appear before recommendations, staff said, and the plan explicitly adds a first‑right‑of‑refusal provision for interfacility transfers and nonemergency transfers where the hospital determines transfer is necessary.

The county staff emphasized the plan was always intended to cover prehospital care rather than hospital internal transfer policy. Staff said the plan now includes an Excel monitoring spreadsheet Pioneer (the assigned emergency provider) will use to report provider notification times, response times and patient care metrics and that an ambulance advisory committee will review compliance data quarterly.

Staff read a new paragraph…