Staffing, lower reimbursements drive ambulance subsidy up
Taylor County taxpayers will be paying more this year to support the ambulance services.
While 2020 saw more ambulance runs than in previous years, the reimbursement rates for those runs were lower, resulting in the county having to pay about $90,000 more to help subsidize the ambulance service.
On Friday, members of the law enforcement and emergency services committee approved giving Aspirus a subsidy of $444,239 for the ambulance service expenses accrued in 2020. The county had budgeted to pay about $354,000 for the service.
Contributing to the additional expense was the addition of two paid emergency medical technicians to provide daytime coverage in Rib Lake and Gilman. However, according to hospital finance officer Greg Shaw, the most significant impact was with the Medicare and Medicaid discounts the federal government imposes on transports for those patients. “The discounts are getting higher each year,” he said.
“Where are we going to get the money for it?” asked acting committee chairperson Cathy Lemke.
County finance director Larry Brandl replied that the county had money budgeted to cover the subsidy amount at the higher rate. Brandl went on to defend the ambulance service noting that in his opinion it was still a very good value for the county residents to partner with Aspirus to run the service. “The average person may not use it, but if you only use it once in your life you want the best service,” he said.
In other business, members:
_ Approved giving $500 to the ambulance service to help fund prizes and awards for a National EMS week event to be held in the third week of May. The funds will come from a budget for recruitment and training.
_ Discussed concerns raised by county board member Scott Mildbrand over the slow rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in Taylor County. “How come Taylor County is last in getting people vaccinated?” he asked. It was noted that of the EMTs and responders offered the vaccine only about 30% opted to get it. Mildbrand said he thinks part of the problem is that people aren’t asking for it.
_ Approved starting the process to fill two vacant dispatcher positions. Sheriff Larry Woebbeking said they are having a hard time getting qualified people in there and are hoping that just having it be a dispatcher versus also working in the jail will be a draw. Committee members also approved beginning the process to fill an expected vacancy in the sheriff’s department when a deputy takes a position in another department. Woebbeking noted that it usually takes a couple months to get someone in those positions.
_ Received a report on jail population. In addition to county inmates there are 16 inmates from Marathon County and two from Price County. Woebbeking reported that using ankle bracelets on Huber inmates to keep them out of the jail during COVID-19 did not work well and that most have returned to jail due to violations. Currently two are out on ankle monitors.
