County approves ambulance funding resolution

The Crook County Commission has passed a resolution that will increase the amount of reimbursement Crook County Medical Services District (CCMSD) receives for ambulance services, with the intention of ensuring these services remain affordable to keep providing in the future.

A public hearing for the resolution was set for January's regular meeting of the county commissioners, after a 45-day notice period is complete.

At that hearing, the commission heard that County Attorney Joe Baron had reviewed the resolution and it had been advertised as necessary.

However, no members of the public were present at the hearing to present concerns.

"There being no one here for the public hearing, I would assume we are ok to [move ahead]," said Commissioner Fred Devish.

The resolution will significantly increase the amount CCMSD makes through reimbursements for its ambulance services. According to Board Attorney Kara Ellsbury, introducing the resolution in December, "We are not making money [on our ambulance services] and so with the lower reimbursement rate it could become unaffordable."

The resolution aims to tap into newly available reimbursement funds through Medicare, which can only be done if the district is providing the only ambulance transfer service in a 35-mile radius. CCMSD is designated as a critical access hospital by Medicare and Medicaid and is potentially eligible.

Around 48% of the patients transported by CCMSD's ambulances are Medicare recipients.

The regulations for Medicare were recently amended, Ellsbury said, and, "Right now, a critical access hospital such as us is eligible to be reimbursed for 101% of the reasonable cost – but only if there is not another ambulance service within a 35-mile drive that's legally authorized to transport patients to or from the hospital."

Unfortunately, a couple of facilities exist within 32 miles. The resolution solves this problem by specifying that CCMSD's ambulance service is the only one legally authorized to transport patients from the hospital.

An ambulance can transport from the hospital in an emergency if Sundance's ambulances can't do it or if CCMSD has a written agreement with another service. CCMSD is establishing memorandums of understanding with other county ambulance services and intends the resolution to have no impact on these services.

The resolution does not impact the county budget, or the budget of any municipality.