Supervisors Debate Renegotiations Of County Ambulance Contract

DELHI - After two years of service Delaware County Supervisors review data from the $1.9 million contract with AMR (American Medical Response) for a county-wide ambulance service. The contract provides two basic life support vehicles and one advanced life support vehicle on a 24-hour-a-day, seven-days-a-week schedule. Two are stationed in south Hamden and another at Pindars Corners. Supervisors intended the service to act as supplementary support to other paid or volunteer services throughout the county. 

Data from 2024 indicates the majority of calls county ambulances respond to are in - Delhi, 668, Davenport, 289, and Stamford, 217. Walton, Harpersfield, Meredith, and Sidney had under 100 calls answered. On the other end, some towns received little to no additional support - Middletown, 4, Tompkins, 13, Hancock, 20, and Deposit, 0. Middletown, Sidney, and Handcock all have operating paid ambulance services.

The major issue with the service explained Margaret Wilson, deputy emergency services director and EMS coordinator, is regulations for Medicare and Medicaid billing. New York legislation sets minimum bill amounts for Medicare and Medicaid patients of around $250. Wilson said the bill amount is close to one-third of the call costs at a base rate of $1,500. A high number of county residents receive Medicaid or Medicare, said Wilson. 

Collected revenues from billing account for 35% of total contract costs; the remainder is billed to the county. Average revenues are exactly as predicted, said Emergency Services Director Steve Hood.

Wilson reported that 85% of the AMR staff for Delaware County live locally. Average ambulance response times - including all services - are down to 14.2 minutes from the 50 minutes before the AMR contract. Wilson concluded that the service has been beneficial for the county and has increased volunteer response times by reducing burnout.

Wilson and Hood told supervisors that the contract cost is more likely to increase drastically if it is sent out to bid again rather than extending and renegotiating the current contract with AMR. Hood will research potential renegotiation costs as compared to bid prices. 

Some supervisors noted that response times might appear to have decreased since most of the calls are in Delhi and the ambulances are stationed nearby.

Hancock Supervisor Jerry Vernold reported receiving concerns from his constituents who already pay $300,000 annually for EMS. He said the Hancock Ambulance serves the town well and it is possible residents will ask to terminate the service if the county service continues or expands. That will force the county to add an extra ambulance to service Hancock's needs and about seven people would be unemployed, said Vernold. "We are paying for a service that quite frankly we don't need," he concluded.

Andes Supervisor Wayland Gladstone and Middletown Supervisor Glen Faulkner added concerns about Westchester Medical paid EMS closing. In a recent meeting with the medical center, Gladstone and Faulkner attended, it was noted the service is facing staffing challenges. This issue would also force the county service to expand. 

Hood reported one additional ambulance and Advanced Life Support staff would triple the contract costs. 

The Emergency Services Committee has been tasked with making recommendations on how to proceed with county ambulance services. The contract with AMR ends in December. 

The county received $25,000 from New York State Department of State for the StateWide Investment in More Swimming Program which provides lifeguard training and employment funds.

The county paid $91,974.96 for services for inmates deemed unable to participate in criminal defense proceedings and require psychiatric care.

Supervisors accepted a bid from CJs Lawn Care for $1,290 to mow 129 county-owned FEMA Flood Buyout properties in Sidney.

The county recognized National Public Health Week for April 7 through 13th.

Supervisors entered an executive session that Planning and Watershed Affairs Director Shelly Johnson-Bennett was invited to.

The next regularly scheduled Board of Supervisors meeting is Wednesday, April 9 at 1 p.m.