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EMS director gives three-year calls summary and explains billing; board asks for rate comparisons
Summary
Terry Halsey presented three years of call statistics and explained current billing: a $650 base and $19 per loaded mile (ALS/BLS distinctions discussed). Commissioners asked staff to return with comparative rates and options to reduce EMS deficits.
EMS Director Terry Halsey provided a three-year breakdown of calls and discussed billing and collections practices in response to commissioner questions. Halsey said the service uses a private billing contractor (Omni) that sends collection letters and maintains a client list for state collection programs. On charges, Halsey clarified current rates: "It's $650 base, and then it's $19 per loaded mile," she told the board, and described ALS versus BLS distinctions that change charge levels.
Commissioners probed whether raising the base rate would reduce the service deficit and asked staff to research neighboring counties’ base rates and insurance-pricing impacts. The board asked Halsey to return with comparative rate data and suggestions on whether a base-rate change or other billing strategies could narrow the anticipated shortfall.
