Calhoun County Commission meets to Discuss Calhoun EMS Direction and MHHS Connection

Commissioners Matt Walker, Kevin Helmick and Craig Arthur met for a “work session” at the Calhoun County Courthouse at 4 p.m. this evening, January 19, 2022. A work session means that no agenda or official action occurred. The meeting was called by Commission President Matt Walker who stated that he was concerned about the direction that Calhoun EMS was going and the repercussions, should Minnie Hamilton Health System decide to hand the reigns back over to the county. He was concerned where that would leave everyone fiscally. Walker said that it had happened a few years ago, and should it happen again with wages at $18.00 an hour and expenses much higher now than then, the County could find themself in trouble.

Paul Hagemann, of the Calhoun EMS Board told the Commission that Calhoun EMS and Minnie Hamilton Health System belong together. He added that Jason Wilson had kept the revenue coming in by keeping the ambulances on the road.

Jason Wilson, Interim Director of Calhoun EMS informed the Commission that although they were facing competitive salaries of $27.00 an hour being paid to Ambulance personnel in Roane County, he felt that their current staff would continue to stay. Calhoun’s billable miles have increased as well as the percentage being paid from each run. In 2022 Calhoun EMS was receiving an average of $400 per call. It had been as high as $800 per call in previous years and he was uncertain why that number had been cut in half. Minnie Hamilton is currently receiving upward of $700-800 per call average payments.

More question than answers seemed to be raised by the work session but it was good to see the Community working together to solve the problem.

Director of Minnie Hamilton Health System, Steve Whited, attended to give input and insight on where the hospital stood in absorbing the costs of running the County’s only ambulance service. He stated that without creating a separate entity for the ambulance service he’d rather not do it. He explained that as long as the ambulance service operated within Minnie Hamilton it also incurred the expenses of the overall business operations. Making the ambulance service responsible for taking care of staff, utilities, building, maintenance and administrative fees that would make the cost of operating an ambulance service much higher. By separating it from the Hospital and making it its own entities the expenses would be reduced drastically and take the extra drain off of the hospital.

Whited also spoke about current legislation that could change billing options for patients dealing with illnesses such as diabetes, epilepsy and other issues, allowing the ambulance to travel to the home and help with care and bill for those in home acts of care.

Judge Larry Whited asked the Commission if there was a limit on the time ambulance services could be billed. Jason Wilson informed him that it varied, stating that there was criteria that had to be completed such as the run sheets locked within 72 hours and submission of billing being 60 days to one year. The issue with the missing run sheets recently discovered for 2022 is that there are no run sheets available for those calls, nor is there staff available to question. He has requested information from Julie Sears regarding the actual number of runs that were dispatched by Calhoun 911, but he has not yet received that information. Once that information is received the amount of lost revenue for 2022 can be figured, but not until. The total of lost revenue has been estimated at $116,000 but could be much higher. This lower amount than the previously reported possible $300,000 in lost revenue is due to the amount received being far less than that billed. With that information and the current management of billing now having an 83% reimbursement rate, there is a chance that Calhoun EMS will be self sufficient.

Steve Whited recommended that the Commission create an advisory board that will recommend how money gets distributed and work toward creating a County rainy day fund that will cover unplanned expenses, vehicle and equipment replacement.

Paul Hagemann announced his plans to retire from the EMS Board.

Larry Whited asked one final question, “Who is responsible for lost revenue and missing run sheets? Jason Wilson responded that previous EMS Director Julie Sears carried that responsibility. The Commissioners made no comment as to any action they planned on the matter.

Those attending the work session were: