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Court renews blood service agreement; EMS cites whole-blood program and state reimbursement plans
Summary
The court approved a routine renewal with South Texas Blood & Tissue Center for EMS blood products; EMS chief Casey Ebrum said carrying whole blood on ambulances has been "a literal life saving component" and noted the legislature allocated $10 million toward future reimbursement for prehospital blood programs.
The Karnes County Commissioners Court approved a routine renewal of the county’s agreement with South Texas Blood & Tissue Center to supply whole blood and related products for EMS use on ambulances.
EMS Chief Casey Ebrum told the court that the county has carried whole blood on ambulances for about 6.5 years and that it has been “a literal life saving component of our care that we provide to our patients.” He explained the billing and credit process for shipped and returned units and noted the legislature added a $10 million appropriation to create a prehospital whole-blood task force and eventual reimbursement mechanism. The court approved the agreement as a standard renewal.
Casey said state-level meetings are ongoing about how DSHS will structure the reimbursement mechanism and that the county hopes future grant or state funds will offset transfusion costs and equipment needs.
