On Wednesday, Owensboro city commissioners voted in approval of an ordinance approving an emergency medical service and ambulance agreement between the City of Owensboro, Daviess County Fiscal Court and Mercy Ambulance of Evansville (AMR Ambulance Service) as the exclusive county-wide emergency service ambulance provider.
The second reading follows a first reading held at the Daviess County Courthouse, wherein Daviess County Judge-Executive Al Mattingly voiced his concern and frustration over Owensboro Health Regional Hospital’s lack of commitment in agreeing to help pay for the yearly $150,000 subsidy costs.
City Manager Nate Pagan said, while discussions between local government leaders have been persistent since Procarent’s Yellow Ambulance announced in January that they’d no longer be renewing their contract as the City and County ambulance provider, everything eventually fell into place for all parties involved.
“It was a lengthy process, but it was a good process,” Pagan said. “We’ve got a provider that will serve the community well.”
Pagan said local government saved a week of time by having a special called meeting on Wednesday, rather than waiting until the next city commission meeting. A separate vote will take place Thursday at a Daviess County Fiscal Court meeting which, if approved, will bridge the agreement between both local governments and AMR Ambulance.
OHRH will serve as a backup provider should anything go awry with AMR over the coming years.
“Since 1978, we’ve had a backup agreement with the hospital where, if the current provider at that time goes bankrupt or, for whatever reason, terminates their contract, then the hospital [will step in],” Pagan said.
Both Pagan and Mattingly have acknowledged that, without question, OHRH will benefit from the county-wide ambulance services provided by AMR. However, OHRH has not agreed to contribute to any of the subsidy costs that are accompanied with the contract.
Pagan said discussions are continuing between local government entities and the hospital but, as of now, the hospital has not offered any monies toward the annual $150,000 subsidy costs.
While OHRH will not serve as a party in the ambulance contract, Pagan said they were involved in the ongoing discussions about the new ambulance provider and will serve an important role in the forthcoming process as the local area’s primary center for emergency medical services.
“There’s another entity that’s actually referenced in the agreement called the MCA, or the Medical Control Authority, which is the City-County hospital,” Pagan said. “So they review the financials and they’re still involved — they’re just not a financial contributor.”
However, Pagan said all parties involved were hoping for financial assistance from the hospital, which would help lower interest rates for both the City and County. OHRH President and CEO Greg Strahan has not yet agreed to any financial contributions for this particular situation.
“They’re in the healthcare business. They’re the community’s health care provider, so their primary mission is to ensure the health and welfare of the community,” Pagan said. “This is a component of community’s health environment.”
