Ambulance Orders and GMT Payments

By PJ Martin

Editor

The Herald-News

 

The Ambulance Service Corporation, Inc. Board of Directors met on Wednesday, December 10^th, at the Community Center in the TJ Health Pavilion.

The meeting was called to order and a roll call was performed with the following individuals present: Judge/Executive Jamie Byrd, Garland Gilliam, Dr. Neil Thornbery, Ervin Sorrell, and Phillip Geralds. Also in attendance were Attorney Brian Pack, Executive Director Joe Middleton, Executive Secretary/Treasurer Shawn Estes, and from The Herald-News, PJ Martin.

The minutes from the October 22^nd meeting were reviewed and approved as written.

Executive Director Joe Middleton opened the reporting section of the meeting and turned the floor over to Executive Treasurer/Secretary Shawn Estes to present the finance reports for October and November.

Estes began with the October report, with total adjusted receipts totaling $563,542 and total adjusted expenses of $608,447, which leaves the net loss of $44,905. The total cash available was $1,211,800.18.

The October financial report was approved with no discussion.

Estes then presented the finance report for November as having total adjusted receipts of $593,460 and total adjusted expenses of $$528,877, which left a net income of $64,583. Estes noted that included in the expenses were a load system and a stretcher. The total cash available was $$1,274,792.90, of which $578,291.76 is operating funds and $696,501.14 is CDs.

The November financial report was approved.

 

Operations Reports

Middleton began the operational reports with the Response Report. The Airport location made 32.51 %, Headquarters made 52.53%, and Metcalfe made 14.90% of the October and November run volume.

The year-to-date run totals as of November 30^th are Barren County 9,001 and Metcalfe County 1,6,88 for a total run volume of 10,689 for the fiscal year.

Next, Middleton reviewed the Operations Report showing that the average chute times are 1 minute 12 seconds. The response time across the county is 10 minutes or 21 seconds. The time on the scene is 15 minutes 23 seconds, and the transport time of 13 minutes and 40 seconds.

The total turnaround time at the hospital is 27 minutes and 34 seconds for a total overall call time just short of one hour, with 54 minutes and 12 seconds.

Middleton further explained, “The census at the hospital has increased dramatically… when the floor backs up, the ER backs up, the ambulances back up, and then that further backs up the floor. Because we don’t have new ambulances available to get patients out, because all the ambulances have patients. So, it’s a vicious cycle when we get into this time of year, especially with the respiratory emergencies and all the difficulty breathing and that kind of stuff.”

The newest report lists the ambulances, their hours logged on the job, repairs, and how long they were out of service. Middleton noted that for November, the trucks were at a productivity level of 87.247%. He added that they want 90% or great; however, several ambulances were awaiting parts and serious repairs.

 

Clinical Report

 Middleton stated that out of the 1,536 responses, 528 were reviewed, and 18 critical incidents were identified. The recommendations were to continue reviewing for identification of issues, provide rapid feedback, and target the education to the items identified.

Four students began EMT training in early September. Two have completed, and two are near completion. The immersion AEMT training had one student complete and one starting mid-September.

Two paramedic students have completed the program for Hopkinsville Fire’s program and are scheduled for NREMT exams. Two other paramedic students have finished ride time and final exams for the KCTCS program and are projected to complete the requirements by the year’s end.

A draft schedule has been developed for an “Immersion” program to train AEMTs to paramedics within 6 months, with a goal to initiate the pilot program in early 2026.

 

Old Business

“I have two ambulance bids to present. One is from Burgess Ambulance Services Incorporated,” stated Middlton. The bid was $ 234,226 with a 15-month delivery time. “I also have a bid spec from Penn Care…which is what we’re running.” The bid was $204,900 with a 24-month delivery time.

After much discussion, the motion was made and approved to order three from Penn Care.

Next, Middlton requested that the Stryker LP35 cardiac monitor program tabled at the last meeting be tabled again, stating, “We have some further research that we’re doing and potential grant opportunities and opportunities for other funding.”

 

New Business

The service liability insurance package was next and Agent David Byrd was in attendance to present and explain the various Pedigo-Lessenberry insurance renewal option ESIP – $238,155 annual premium with $5,000 deductible; VFIS – $195,465.84 annual premium with $1,000 property and $5,000 auto deductible; and KLC – $156,756.70 annual premium with $2,500 deductible (no auto value and no extra coverage).

After discussing the differences between coverage and how payouts are determined, it was decided that the best choice would be VFIS coverage.

The last item was brought by Middleton, “We received a letter from the state about the GMP payments, which is the Medicaid enhanced payment program. Basically, since 2020, we have been drawing, and we have been sending up Medicaid assessments. They’ve been using that money to draw down more money from the federal government so that they could send us a monthly check to enhance the payments. We’ve been around the tune of $635,000 annually, just money that they’re sending down, because we take care of Medicaid patients. But those assessments and those payment plans were built on run volume from the year 2018, 2019, 2020… So now they’re having to do assessments… about two-thirds of the annual services in Kentucky are having to pay back to the GMP program.”

Middleton directed them to look at the letter, “They owe us $27,008 68, so they have 65 to 90 days to pay us that money… we owe them, $19,296.” He went on to explain that it cannot be taken out of the money due to the service, because it is a balancing of various HMOS and different Medicaid vendors. The letter included a page listing who owes the ambulance service and who the service owes, and each one must be paid individually. The motions were made, and it was approved to pay the $19,292.

The next meeting is scheduled for February 25, 2026, at 4 p.m. in Barren County.

With no other business, the meeting adjourned.