BOCC evaluates county EMS formula

PINEHURST — The Shoshone Board of County Commissioners met last week with the Shoshone County Emergency Medical Services Corporation, as well as representatives with the local fire districts to discuss and review the current operation model of ambulance services provided in Silver Valley and portions of Kootenai County.

The meeting was one in a series of meetings. The goals are to gain an understanding of the ambulance services and, if needed, make improvements.

During the meeting a myriad of topics were discussed, with the group looking at the budget requirements, the level of service provided to the community, and how the local emergency services and agreements work both independently and together.

Which can be slightly tricky.

The EMS Corp was formed in 2012 to fill a vital gap in ambulance services due to the retirement of the area’s longtime provider.

In the event an ambulance provider is not present within a county, the burden of providing the service falls on the county and its BOCC.

Currently, the bulk of local ambulance services are carried out through a series of service agreements between Shoshone County, the EMS Corp, Shoshone County Fire District No. 1, Shoshone County Fire District No. 2 and neighboring counties.

Funding for the local ambulance service is mixed and include billing of ambulatory services, patient transports and transfers; grants; and county supplemental funding.

According to BOCC Chairman Mike Fitzgerald, the EMS Corp’s basic services is currently funded annually, in part, through a county levy in the amount of $86,660 per year.

In addition, the corporation derives other revenues through additional patient transfers and local hospital service agreements.

Under the ambulances current structure and service agreement with the county, the EMS Corp maintains the mandatory certifications necessary to operate ambulance services and performs administrative and fiscal duties such as billings, collections, record keeping, ambulance personnel training, medical supply purchasing and vehicle maintenance.

The EMS Corp has two full-time employees.

Through service agreements with the EMS Corp, the two local fire districts provide ambulance response and EMT care, patient transport, and, in certain cases, patient transfers.

The fire districts are independent of the EMS Corp and each department has their own chief, who are in-charge of their respective districts, staff and volunteers.

In keeping with the goals of the meeting, Fitzgerald said, “While they all have to work together, the fire districts and the EMS Corp, the Board of County Commissioners is ultimately in charge of providing emergency services. And, we are looking at this from the perspective of, are we providing an appropriate level of service — at the correct level of funding — under the best administrative structure.” The News-Press will continue to follow any upcoming meetings as a resolution is sought.