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Northern Bay Ambulance officials tell committee aging ambulances jeopardize rural response
Summary
Northern Bay Ambulance told the subcommittee it serves about 182 square miles and 10,000 residents, operates five ambulances (two nonfunctional), and seeks a one-time state appropriation to replace an aging rig amid rising costs and low reimbursement rates.
A representative introduced Northern Bay Ambulance's request for state funding to replace an aging ambulance that serves roughly 182 square miles and about 10,000 residents in a rural part of the state. Joanna, who said she has overseen the project, said the service operates five ambulances but two do not run, the newest rig dates to 2016, and repairs are increasingly expensive.
Joanna gave the committee a financial snapshot: the service subsidizes operations with a $137-per-parcel special assessment and estimates an average ambulance call costs about $900 while typical reimbursement for some patients covers roughly $255. She said payroll costs (medic plus EMT) are the largest expense and described a recent incident in which an ambulance broke down with a patient onboard, requiring another ambulance to pick up and transfer the patient.
Committee members asked whether replacing one rig would change the local special assessment. Joanna said the assessment would remain in place because it subsidizes payroll costs, and that the quickest available new vehicle would take about six months to arrive.
No formal action was taken; committee members thanked Northern Bay representatives for the testimony.
