Commissioners OK EMS fee hikes
SANDPOINT — Bonner County commissioners voted unanimously on Thursday to update its EMS fee schedule amid gales of objections from the public.
The public at the hearing largely consisted of Sagle Fire District officials and their supporters, who took issue with the rate hike sought by Bonner County EMS. They contend the fee increases are a result of the department’s expansion into Sagle and fleet of vehicles, which include five sport utility vehicles, two types of all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles and trailers.
“Spending by this organization has gone unchecked over the years, which has now resulted in the situation in which they find themselves,” said Rob Goodyear, a former Sagle Fire chief and commissioner.
Bonner EMS Chief Bussey allowed that the department did indeed have a fleet, although it has proven necessary in wilderness operations, such as the rescue of a trapped hiker at Chimney Rock in 2014 and the search for survivors of a plane crash near Hope earlier this month.
Bussey added that the county’s proposed station in Sagle is already accounted for in the budget.
Bussey said the fee hikes were necessary because the fee schedule hasn’t been addressed since the county ambulance district formed in 2005.
“The cost of doing business over the last 10 years has increased, not only in emergency medicine but all over society. We just wish to keep pace with inflation,” said Bussey.
The county’s fee schedule, which is based on Medicare and Medicaid rates, increases the base rate for emergent basic and advanced life-support calls by $50, bringing them to $525 and $625, respectively.
The per-mile rate of $11 is increasing to $14 and new fees are being added for disposable medical supplies and oxygen equipment.
Bonner County EMS moves have been under close scrutiny ever since severing contractual ties with the Sagle Fire District in July.
Commissioners contend tax dollars levied for EMS shouldn’t be used to prop fire district’s finances. The board also believe the county can provide a higher level of service for less cost in the long run, which Sagle Fire officials have disputed.
As a result of the disagreement, matters involving Bonner EMS become a battleground.
Sagle Fire Commissioner Esther Gilchrist reminded commissioners that Kootenai County’s EMS-centric system spent itself into substantial debt and has since adopted a fire-based EMS model.
“Nationwide, it’s been proven that EMS is cheaper when it’s fire-based. It’s also more efficient and it’s a better use of a resources,” Gilchrist said.
Clint Frank, an engineer with Sandpoint Fire, hoped the fee issue would bring the county and Sagle back to the drawing board.
“It’s time to open that discussion and this just brings to light the fact that four months later we’re looking for more money. Obviously, I just don’t see how the system’s going to be sustainable long-term,” said Frank, who works with Sagle Fire under a joint operating agreement.
County commissioners, however, had no interest in revisiting the topic and approved the fee increases.
“It’s reasonable for EMS to keep up with the cost of doing business just like everybody else. It’s not raising taxes; it’s not raising the levy rate,” said Commissioner Todd Sudick.
Commissioner Glen Bailey agreed, noting that commissioners have seen the staggering increases in medical costs in managing the health care plan for employees. He called the increases “unreal."
“We’re considering fee increases on fees that have not been raised for over 10 years,” said Bailey. “They have not kept up with rate inflation and they have not kept up with abnormal rate increases right now in the cost of medications and prescriptions."