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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us December 8, 2005 Ashland ambulance rates to rise along with most of the rest of the county By Damian Mann For the Tidings Ambulance rates will increase in most of Jackson County in January as two emergency service operators get squeezed by falling revenues and greater call volumes, Jackson County commissioners decided Wednesday. Ashland Fire and Rescue will raise its rates from $700 to $800 and will have automatic increases based on the consumer price index. Mercy Flights, the area’s largest ambulance service, will increase the cost to transport patients from $675 to $800 and will charge $12 a mile compared to $10 now. Rates will increase annually based on the consumer price index. The nonprofit organization also will reserve the right to charge $250 to respond to a call where transport isn’t required. Even with the increased rates, the two ambulance services are worried about the future as the reimbursement from the federal government becomes more precarious. “No matter what you say about rates, it may not keep you afloat,” said County Commissioner Dave Gilmour. Ken Parsons, Mercy Flights general manager, said one of the biggest problems is that 65 percent of the calls are for people on Medicaid or Medicare, but the government reimbursement rate for these calls has fallen in recent years from $620 to $440. “The government has worked to transfer costs on the back of providers,” said Parsons, whose nonprofit organization expects to respond to more than 18,000 calls and transport 10,000 patients by the end of this year. In 2004, Mercy responded to 16,000 calls and transported 9,100. Parsons said citizens of Jackson County expect a high level of service and ambulances that have all the latest equipment. Mercy keeps its average response time to eight minutes, which requires having sufficient personnel and a well-maintained fleet of ambulances. Last year, Mercy, which has a total budget of $7 million, experienced a loss of $600,000, said Parsons. This year, after restructuring the way it provides service, Mercy came out in the black by $200,000. Parsons expects to have about the same financial picture next year despite an increase in revenues because he anticipates purchasing new equipment, including two ambulances. In the long run, he said, revenues could drop because the Medicare- and Medicaid-dependent population continues to increase. Mercy Flights also will no longer pay for restocking medical supplies for local fire districts after July 1, 2006. Ashland Fire Chief Keith Woodley, justifying the rate hike in Ashland, said, “We are still not operating at a break-even basis.” The ambulance service is subsidized by the city of Ashland, which contributed $1.2 million in 2004. He said many people have the impression that ambulance services make huge profits. “It’s just not the case,” he said. Gilmour, a Central Point doctor, said, “People don’t realize how expensive it is to keep those services going.” Commissioner C.W. Smith said, “I understand the need for those kind of increases no matter how painful they are.” DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Deep Muscle Stimulator Ceramic Piggy Banks FREE Entertainment Guide Women's & Men's Slippers Accelerate Weightloss Products Backpacks Generic Viagra Vegas Travel Guide Search Engine Optimization Sportsbook Absinthe Supply Student Loans Hotel & Airline Reservations African Safari Hammocks Helzberg Diamonds Online Casinos Community Bonus Casino King of Spirits ink cartridges Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Mailing Lists Click Here Advertisement .:Advertisements:. Site Search: RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams