Fremont County approves secure-transport licenses and permits dozens of vehicles for three providers

The Fremont County Board of County Commissioners on a unanimous series of votes approved licensing and vehicle permits Thursday that allow three private companies to provide secure transportation services for behavioral-health transports in the county.

County Attorney Eric Bellas summarized the program before the votes, explaining that secure transportation services are a tier below ground ambulance services and are regulated by provider class (Class A providers may use limited physical restraint; Class B may not) and vehicle type (Type 1 vehicles have a physical barrier between driver and passenger; Type 2 do not). "These are for behavioral health transports," Bellas said, explaining why the county issues separate licenses for providers and permits for each vehicle.

Why it matters: The approvals allow local private providers to operate and bill for secure transports within Fremont County, increasing local capacity for non-ambulance behavioral-health…