Commissioners press MediOne for details after ambulance billing hikes
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Summary
City leaders said MediOne submitted a $156,000 increase to Benton Harbor for ambulance transportation; the city manager will meet with neighboring officials and pursue a targeted FOIA to obtain itemized spending and justification for new rates.
Acting City Manager Oscar Warren told the committee that MediOne notified the city of a $156,000 increase in ambulance-related charges allocated to Benton Harbor and that neighboring jurisdictions received different increases.
"We have the amount, the $156,000 increase that they sent to us," Warren said, and added that Saint Joe City and Lincoln Township also received changes in their billed amounts. Warren said he will meet with Commissioners Fields and Turner and schedule discussions with the vendor to question how rates were calculated and why increases vary among municipalities.
Commissioner Henry pressed staff on whether MediOne had provided the documentation previously promised; staff said they have not yet filed a Freedom of Information Act request and will prepare a targeted request with specific language so it is less likely to be denied.
Warren noted that most calls are short transport runs to the hospital, often just five to ten minutes, and said Medicare and Medicaid reimburse only certain amounts; the city will seek documentation showing how MediOne allocates short local runs versus longer rural trips.
Next steps: Warren will arrange meetings with impacted commissioners and file a FOIA request to obtain itemized spending and rate-justification documents from MediOne.
