After procurement dispute, Baker County approves $35,000 contract to complete Medicare ambulance data submission

Chief Nelson briefed commissioners on the federal Medicare ground ambulance data collection program, a multi‑year data submission intended to inform reimbursement rates. Nelson said the required submission is a 56‑page document and that preparing it correctly is time‑consuming; failing to submit would trigger a 10% Medicare reimbursement reduction, which Nelson estimated could cost the county about $50,000 based on last year’s Medicaid/Medicare revenues.

Nelson explained the county initially contracted a firm for $10,000 to help prepare the work but now recommends paying an additional $25,000 (bringing the total to $35,000) so the contractor can complete the document properly. Several commissioners questioned whether the county had followed procurement procedures for sole‑sourcing and whether a solicitation should be run now that the price has risen to $35,000.

An unidentified commissioner said: “My issue is following proper procurement processes in the governmental sector … we ought followed the process that we have in place,” adding he would vote against the increase absent proper solicitation. Chief Nelson and other staff said the firm had been used previously for a similar PEMT program and that staff initially believed the county could prepare the submission internally. Nelson warned the submission deadline and the financial penalty for non‑submission. After discussion, the board approved the $35,000 contract by voice vote (a 3–1 outcome was recorded in the meeting).