Jefferson County asks local hospital to help offset ambulance transfer costs; board also explores radios from opioid funds

The Jefferson County Board of Supervisors voted Feb. 20 to send a letter to Jefferson County Health Center asking the hospital to consider a financial agreement to help offset the cost of ambulance transfers to Iowa City and other higher-level facilities.

Supervisor (Speaker 1) told the board that in the first six months of the year the county billed roughly $284,000 for transfers and collected about $123,000, leaving an outstanding balance the county is seeking help to defray. The draft letter presented to the board lists four options, including a contract fee structure; the board approved placing the letter on county letterhead and sending it to the hospital.

Separately, EMS staff reported persistent radio reception problems in county ambulances and suggested purchasing three mobile radios (estimated total cost about $27,000) and evaluating compatibility of existing handhelds. The EMS representative proposed using opioid-settlement funds to pay for the radios. The county attorney's office asked for a week to review legal and policy implications; the board deferred any purchase until staff (including Susie, who oversees opioid funds) could provide input.

The board did not appropriate funds on the spot for radios. Supervisors instructed staff to coordinate with the county attorney and the opioid committee to determine whether the proposed equipment purchase would be allowable under settlement fund guidelines.

The vote to send the hospital letter passed by voice vote; the communications to the hospital will outline transfer billing data and a proposed $250-per-transfer contract fee as one option among others.