ruralmetro-ambulance-service-to-stop-indiana-ems-service

[me]

http://www.wthr.com/story/26306337/2014/08/18/ruralmetro-ambulance-service-to-stop-indiana-ems-service

Rural/Metro to stop most Indiana EMS service

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78
Posted: Aug 18, 2014 12:14 PM EDT
Updated: Aug 18, 2014 2:15 PM EDT
By WTHR Channel 13 - Email
MARTINSVILLE, Ind. -
Arizona-based Rural/Metro, a company which operates ambulance services in over 30 Indiana communities, will stop providing service to most of its Indiana locations. The company is citing low transport volumes and low Medicaid reimbursement rates among other factors.

Martinsville Mayor Phil Deckard says Rural/Metro plans to stop EMS service in most locations in Indiana within 60 days.

Rural/Metro operates in 21 states and nearly 700 communities across the country.

Rural/Metro issued this statement:

Following a year-long effort to substantially restructure and improve its municipal contracts throughout Indiana, Rural/Metro has decided to discontinue operations in a number of Indiana counties. Rural/Metro's operating footprint in Indiana is a series of smaller, nonadjacent rural areas that have become increasingly difficult to serve due to very low transport volumes. These factors, combined with a changing American healthcare environment, larger amounts of unpaid indigent care, and low Medicaid reimbursement rates within Indiana have created a difficult business environment which led to this decision. These operations will be ended in accordance with the terms of their respective contracts.

Transitioning out of these select Indiana markets, which represent a non-material total of Rural/Metro's overall transport volume, allows Rural/Metro to continue focusing on areas where it can efficiently provide optimal service and patient care. Rural/Metro is committed to working with these affected counties and our EMS partners to assist in transitioning service so that ongoing service needs are met in a seamless manner.

Although Rural/Metro will be strategically withdrawing from a number of its central Indiana locations, it will continue to serve higher volume markets in Indiana with a sufficient scale for the company to benefit from operating efficiencies.

Rural/Metro is a leading provider of emergency and non-emergency medical transportation, fire protection, and safety-related services in communities throughout the United States. Established in 1948, Rural Metro has cultivated 66 years of unparalleled system transparency, superior customer service, and robust continuous improvement processes.

Our core mission is to provide quality community health services that encompass long-term stability, innovation, and exceptional care.


The company operates in the following Indiana communities. At this point it's not known which services will be affected.
Anderson

Delaware County

Franklin

Greenwood

Hamilton

Hancock County

Hendricks County

Indianapolis

Johnson County

Madison County

Marion County

Martinsville

Morgan County

Richmond

Wayne County

Whiteland

Cass County

Logansport

Clark County

Clarksville

Henryville

Charleston

Lafayette

Frankfort

Williamsport

Lawrence County

Bedford

Mitchell

Bloomington

Jennings County

North Vernon

This is a developing story that will be updated.

[Palehorse]

http://www.wthr.com/story/26306337/2014/08/18/ruralmetro-ambulance-service-to-stop-indiana-ems-service

Rural/Metro to stop most Indiana EMS service

Share on facebookShare on twitterShare on gmailShare on emailShare on printMore Sharing Services
78
Posted: Aug 18, 2014 12:14 PM EDT
Updated: Aug 18, 2014 2:15 PM EDT
By WTHR Channel 13 - Email
MARTINSVILLE, Ind. -
Arizona-based Rural/Metro, a company which operates ambulance services in over 30 Indiana communities, will stop providing service to most of its Indiana locations. The company is citing low transport volumes and low Medicaid reimbursement rates among other factors.

Martinsville Mayor Phil Deckard says Rural/Metro plans to stop EMS service in most locations in Indiana within 60 days.

Rural/Metro operates in 21 states and nearly 700 communities across the country.

Rural/Metro issued this statement:

Following a year-long effort to substantially restructure and improve its municipal contracts throughout Indiana, Rural/Metro has decided to discontinue operations in a number of Indiana counties. Rural/Metro's operating footprint in Indiana is a series of smaller, nonadjacent rural areas that have become increasingly difficult to serve due to very low transport volumes. These factors, combined with a changing American healthcare environment, larger amounts of unpaid indigent care, and low Medicaid reimbursement rates within Indiana have created a difficult business environment which led to this decision. These operations will be ended in accordance with the terms of their respective contracts.

Transitioning out of these select Indiana markets, which represent a non-material total of Rural/Metro's overall transport volume, allows Rural/Metro to continue focusing on areas where it can efficiently provide optimal service and patient care. Rural/Metro is committed to working with these affected counties and our EMS partners to assist in transitioning service so that ongoing service needs are met in a seamless manner.

Although Rural/Metro will be strategically withdrawing from a number of its central Indiana locations, it will continue to serve higher volume markets in Indiana with a sufficient scale for the company to benefit from operating efficiencies.

Rural/Metro is a leading provider of emergency and non-emergency medical transportation, fire protection, and safety-related services in communities throughout the United States. Established in 1948, Rural Metro has cultivated 66 years of unparalleled system transparency, superior customer service, and robust continuous improvement processes.

Our core mission is to provide quality community health services that encompass long-term stability, innovation, and exceptional care.


The company operates in the following Indiana communities. At this point it's not known which services will be affected.
Anderson

Delaware County

Franklin

Greenwood

Hamilton

Hancock County

Hendricks County

Indianapolis

Johnson County

Madison County

Marion County

Martinsville

Morgan County

Richmond

Wayne County

Whiteland

Cass County

Logansport

Clark County

Clarksville

Henryville

Charleston

Lafayette

Frankfort

Williamsport

Lawrence County

Bedford

Mitchell

Bloomington

Jennings County

North Vernon

This is a developing story that will be updated.

It's their business. They are just reorganizing to increase profits. What is your point?

[me]

For those who might use it and might want to know.  There are people who use the service to be transported for treatments and so forth.  I have seen them many times when I had to take mom for her doctors appointments taking people for treatments or to therapy and the information may come in handy. 

[The Troll]

It's their business. They are just reorganizing to increase profits. What is your point?

  It has always been about the money, profit and cutting taxes.  More bad times for the poor and sick and  people all alone.   

[Henry Hawk]

It has always been about the money, profit

What is your point?  It IS a business.  THAT is the point of having a BUSINESS, isn't it?

[Palehorse]

What is your point?  It IS a business.  THAT is the point of having a BUSINESS, isn't it?

Is it? Really though?

Perhaps, but it is an offshoot or supporting service connected with those, and in support of those, that take an oath to: (In part)

. . .I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick." . . .

So what responsibility do those supporting entities have to abide by this same oath?

Moreover, what are the implications of "Primum non nocere", as each and every healthcare and medical student is taught?

[me]

Is it? Really though?

Perhaps, but it is an offshoot or supporting service connected with those, and in support of those, that take an oath to: (In part)

. . .I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick." . . .

So what responsibility do those supporting entities have to abide by this same oath?

Moreover, what are the implications of "Primum non nocere", as each and every healthcare and medical student is taught?

So what would you suggest the owners do?  Should they get a job to help support their business?  I do believe there are expenses involved with owning such a business and those expenses have to be met.  Who are you to judge what kind of profit, if any, they are making?  They have to stay solvent to provide the service they cannot operate at a loss.

[Palehorse]

So what would you suggest the owners do?  Should they get a job to help support their business?  I do believe there are expenses involved with owning such a business and those expenses have to be met.  Who are you to judge what kind of profit, if any, they are making?  They have to stay solvent to provide the service they cannot operate at a loss.

I'm not suggesting anything. I am just asking questions to try, vainly so I admit, to get you to think about this from another angle other than the materialistic world-view you so greedily cling to.

Philanthropy within healthcare is dead; a death that began with the deregulation of the insurance industry, and which has spread like a metastasized cancer across the entirety of healthcare.

THIS is what drives initiatives like the HCRA, etc., and that profit is the root cause of those 1500.00 ambulance rides, 200.00 doctor visits, and 400 /wk healthcare premiums, etc. FOR PROFIT is the fuel that keeps running the population into the ground, and it has gone wild.

The irony in it all is that it even has supporters from those who are but one serious healthcare challenge from being financially buried themselves by it.

[me]

I'm not suggesting anything. I am just asking questions to try, vainly so I admit, to get you to think about this from another angle other than the materialistic world-view you so greedily cling to.

Philanthropy within healthcare is dead; a death that began with the deregulation of the insurance industry, and which has spread like a metastasized cancer across the entirety of healthcare.

THIS is what drives initiatives like the HCRA, etc., and that profit is the root cause of those 1500.00 ambulance rides, 200.00 doctor visits, and 400 /wk healthcare premiums, etc. FOR PROFIT is the fuel that keeps running the population into the ground, and it has gone wild.

The irony in it all is that it even has supporters from those who are but one serious healthcare challenge from being financially buried themselves by it.

Have you ever checked into the costs of upkeep for the vehicles, medical equipment, ambulance drivers, business insurance, med techs to staff the ambulances, or the other expenses involved in that type of business?  Ever think about the overhead for a doctor who tries to maintain his own office not to mention the years of schooling he paid for plus the continuing education to keep up with the latest medical advances and replacing old outdated or broken equipment.   

[Henry Hawk]

I'm not suggesting anything. I am just asking questions to try, vainly so I admit, to get you to think about this from another angle other than the materialistic world-view you so greedily cling to.

Philanthropy within healthcare is dead; a death that began with the deregulation of the insurance industry, and which has spread like a metastasized cancer across the entirety of healthcare.

THIS is what drives initiatives like the HCRA, etc., and that profit is the root cause of those 1500.00 ambulance rides, 200.00 doctor visits, and 400 /wk healthcare premiums, etc. FOR PROFIT is the fuel that keeps running the population into the ground, and it has gone wild.

The irony in it all is that it even has supporters from those who are but one serious healthcare challenge from being financially buried themselves by it.

I would argue that it was government interference that pushed prices out of control.  Companies soon began to realize that when medicade/medicare would flip the bill, the prices began to climb.  Greed allowed these business to take advantage of such government assistance programs.

I agree something HAS GOT TO BE DONE, and I just don't have the warm and fuzzy feeling when our government steps in.  At this point of time they MUST step in.  I'm not claiming to have answers, but the current path CLEARLY is not going to make it better.

[Palehorse]

Have you ever checked into the costs of upkeep for the vehicles, medical equipment, ambulance drivers, business insurance, med techs to staff the ambulances, or the other expenses involved in that type of business?  Ever think about the overhead for a doctor who tries to maintain his own office not to mention the years of schooling he paid for plus the continuing education to keep up with the latest medical advances and replacing old outdated or broken equipment.   

I know all too well the cost of upkeep for vehicles and equipment; specifically within the medical field as you well know.

Surrounding the schooling issue, it isn't any different for individuals holding an advanced degree within any discipline; except for the fact they are now struggling to obtain positions that pay a wage that warrants pursuit of said education. The fact is a large percentage of advanced degree holders are working for salaries that are 40% and more BELOW what the same positions paid just a decade ago; and that's when they can find them. A lot of them are working at Walmart, etc. . . So . . . what's your point?

The fact is the medical field isn't the only one charging astronomical fees for their services and products. Been to a gas pump lately?

[me]

I know all too well the cost of upkeep for vehicles and equipment; specifically within the medical field as you well know.

Surrounding the schooling issue, it isn't any different for individuals holding an advanced degree within any discipline; except for the fact they are now struggling to obtain positions that pay a wage that warrants pursuit of said education. The fact is a large percentage of advanced degree holders are working for salaries that are 40% and more BELOW what the same positions paid just a decade ago; and that's when they can find them. A lot of them are working at Walmart, etc. . . So . . . what's your point?

The fact is the medical field isn't the only one charging astronomical fees for their services and products. Been to a gas pump lately?

You are comparing apples to oranges here.  Doctors are not the same as a corporation even though they may have their business, office, incorporated.  They are individuals with expenses, high expenses, and in the case of surgeons or specialty medicine their insurance cost alone is astronomical. 
I guess my whole point here, since you turned what was simply and informational post into a discussion about money, is people don't go into business to not make money or a profit.  You keep referring to the money these people make without considering what their expenses may be.  Let's keep this to the small business people and forget about the huge corporations, that's in other topics here and a whole different ball game.

[Bo D]

You are comparing apples to oranges here.  Doctors are not the same as a corporation even though they may have their business, office, incorporated.  They are individuals with expenses, high expenses, and in the case of surgeons or specialty medicine their insurance cost alone is astronomical. 
I guess my whole point here, since you turned what was simply and informational post into a discussion about money, is people don't go into business to not make money or a profit.  You keep referring to the money these people make without considering what their expenses may be.  Let's keep this to the small business people and forget about the huge corporations, that's in other topics here and a whole different ball game.

Wait a minute! I thought that corporations are people, too?

I don't think they have doctors riding their ambulances, so what's your point here.

I haven't seen mentioned here that Rural/Metro filed for Chapter 11 last year.


The company said it sought bankruptcy protection in part because it "experienced significant challenges and disruptions operating its billing and collections functions," which resulted in "reduced revenue and delayed cash collections."

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-06/ambulance-company-rural-metro-wins-approval-of-bankruptcy-loan.html

So they didn't collect their money very well ....

And ....

They were bilking Medicare.

"Scottsdale-based Rural/Metro Corp. has agreed to pay $2.8 million to settle federal allegations its ambulance companies incorrectly charged Medicare for patient transportation to hospitals."

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2013/12/26/ruralmetro-agrees-to-28m-settlement.html

[me]

Good grief this was meant as an informational post only and ya'll want to make a big deal out of it.  People who use them as transportation for treatments need to know they may need to find an alternate means of transportation.  I thought maybe someone who reads the forum may know someone who does use the service and would appreciate the info. 

[Henry Hawk]

Good grief this was meant as an informational post only and ya'll want to make a big deal out of it.  People who use them as transportation for treatments need to know they may need to find an alternate means of transportation.  I thought maybe someone who reads the forum may know someone who does use the service and would appreciate the info. 

That is what I thought too ME.  I have also heard that many of the employees have been let go in the Madison Co. area.  My wife knows a few from the Hospital that have been let go.