Camanche council approves $6,000 annual contract for EMS reimbursement consultant

The Camanche City Council approved an annual $6,000 professional services agreement with Rick Row Consulting to support ground emergency medical transport (GMT) Medicaid reimbursement reporting.

City staff and the consultant told the council the work is specialized and time‑intensive and not part of the city’s annual financial audit. The city administrator described the ask as “a revenue‑positive program” and said the consultant’s services would be paid from GMT revenue and not the general fund. The packet and presentation said the annual fee is $6,000 and that GMT reporting protects ‘‘nearly $30,000’’ in supplemental payments administered by the Iowa Department of Human Services and the Iowa Medicaid Enterprise.

Consultant Rick Row told the council his firm uses CMS cost principles and Iowa DHS methodologies to prepare GMT cost reports and that errors in reporting can reduce or delay reimbursement or trigger recoupment. He said third‑party expertise reduces compliance and audit risks and that in his experience technical corrections often increase net supplemental payments by several thousand dollars annually.

Council moved and seconded the item and a roll call was taken. The transcript records “yes” votes from Councilman Edens, Councilman Clan and Councilman Maxwell; other votes were not recorded in the available transcript. The motion passed.

The contract is annual and non‑binding beyond each 12‑month term; staff said the council would have the opportunity each year to approve or decline renewal. The council directed staff to execute the agreement if the consultant confirmed the annual fee and scope.

Next steps: staff will execute the contract subject to final administrative review and will return to council if any material changes are proposed.