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Commission asks staff to draft interfacility COPCN after Survival Flight asks for transfer authority
Summary
A local ambulance operator asked Taylor County for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity limited to interfacility transfers and special events; the board asked staff to draft a COPCN for review and to consult Century (the 911 contractor) before broader changes.
A local ambulance operator identified as Survival Flight told the Taylor County Board of Commissioners it seeks a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (COPCN) limited to interfacility transfers and special-event medical coverage, and county leaders instructed staff to draft such a COPCN for board consideration.
The operator said they already provide on-site medical teams for special events and want authority to perform interfacility transports (hospital-to-hospital and nursing-home transfers) without triggering conflicts with the county—11 provider. The operator emphasized they would not replace 911 emergency response and that the requested COPCN would be limited to non-911 interfacility transfers and coverage of pre-arranged special events.
Board members and staff raised contractual concerns because Century (the county—ontract 911 provider) is the primary emergency-response contractor and county dispatch protocols depend on that primary-responder role. Commissioners asked staff and the county attorney to review the Century contract and to invite Century to the next meeting for comment before any broader COPCN that could affect 911 responses.
County staff recommended drafting a COPCN limited to interfacility transfers similar to a previously approved arrangement for another provider. Commissioner discussion produced a motion to have staff draft the interfacility-transfer COPCN and place it on the next board agenda so commissioners could consider approval after review of contract implications and Century—eedback.
Why this matters: A COPCN determines which providers may legally transport patients for certain services; granting a COPCN, even limited to interfacility transfers, can affect dispatch decisions and existing provider contracts.
The transcript records a recommendation to draft the COPCN and bring it back to the board; staff was instructed to obtain legal input and to seek Century—omment. No final COPCN was executed during the meeting.
