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County EMS proposes multi‑year financing for cardiac monitors and updates fee schedule to include treatment‑no‑transport billing
Summary
Warren County EMS sought county authorization to finance new cardiac monitors, AEDs and Lucas devices and outlined plans to replace stair chairs and add power cot/bariatric equipment; EMS also proposed a 2.4% transport rate increase and a new billable fee for on‑scene treatment without transport.
Warren County emergency‑medical services leaders described equipment replacement plans and billing changes to the Board of Supervisors on Jan. 14 that would be funded through the system’s cost‑recovery account and a proposed multi‑year Stryker Flex financing agreement.
An EMS representative told the board the department needs to replace nine Lifepak cardiac monitors, 15 automatic external defibrillators and seven Lucas chest‑compression devices because existing units have aged and manufacturers have released newer models. Staff provided a total cost estimate of $856,005.92 for the replacements and said Stryker offered a six‑year financing arrangement at about 3 percent interest. County legal staff advised that a financing agreement would be memorialized in a resolution and go to public advertisement; staff said the financing authorization was scheduled to appear on a future board agenda.
The EMS chief also proposed equipment to improve bariatric patient handling: one power cot/power‑load stretcher system for a medic unit and a battery‑operated bariatric stair chair. Staff said those purchases are intended to raise the hands‑on lifting capacity to a 700‑pound rating and reduce injury risk to first responders; they said cases over 700 pounds would continue to be handled by regional bariatric resources.
Staff also sought funds to replace 11 manual stair chairs countywide (estimated $73,236) and said annual maintenance agreements would be included.
Separately, EMS staff proposed changes to the county’s emergency medical care and transport fee schedule: a modest 2.4 percent increase in transport rates in line with Medicare/Medicaid industry standards and a new ‘‘treatment‑no‑transport’’ fee to allow billing when crews provide on‑scene care (for example, stabilizing a diabetic patient with dextrose) but the patient refuses hospital transport. EMS billed agencies said the treatment‑no‑transport fee is not payable by Medicare or Medicaid; EMS will request insurance information from patients and will not bill uninsured patients, staff said.
The board did not take immediate action on equipment financing or fee schedule changes at the Jan. 14 session; staff said the financing item will be advertised and placed on a future agenda and the fee changes will be presented for the board’s formal adoption.
