Ambulance Committee Discusses EMS Options After West TN Healthcare Terminates EMS Contract with Bolivar
The Hardeman County Ambulance Committee met on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, to discuss emergency medical service (EMS) options for the whole county since West Tennessee Healthcare’s Medical Center EMS (WTH EMS) has announced the termination of its contract with the City of Bolivar.
The ambulance committee is considering whether to keep the county managed Hardeman County Ambulance Service, or turn over EMS operations to the private provider, West Tennessee Healthcare’s Medical Center EMS (WTH EMS). Either option could provide service to the entire county.
Since January 1, 2022, WTH EMS has provided EMS to the residents of Bolivar, while Hardeman County’s Ambulance Service has provided EMS to the remainder of the county, but that was supposed to end on July 1, 2023, when WTH EMS terminated their contract with the City of Bolivar. They have since decided to continue serving Bolivar on a temporary basis while the City of Bolivar and Hardeman County each decide how to move forward.
Mayor McTizic said Bolivar originally decided to contract with WTH EMS to provide EMS services to Bolivar citizens because of “lack of service”. He continued that the quality of service from the county was good, but there were not enough ambulances to serve the needs of the citizens.
Because WTH EMS was able to bill patients insurance for the service, they provided their service at no cost to the the City of Bolivar, but due to staffing shortages, staffing cost increases, fuel cost, and supply cost, they are no longer able to provide their services to Bolivar at no cost.
In a letter dated February 27, 2023, Tim Adams, System Vice President Hospital Services, said they are now operating at an unsustainable loss, “We are no longer able to provide EMS services to the City of Bolivar under the current terms of the Agreement, and are providing this letter as notice of termination of our Agreement effective July 1, 2023”.
It was announced at Wednesday’s meeting that WTH EMS is requesting a subsidy of $406,375 annually from the City of Bolivar to continue its service.
Bolivar is not the first to face a subsidy request from West Tennessee Healthcare. The Chester County Independent reported that Chester County, who was also receiving EMS services at no cost, received a similar letter earlier this year. The article states, “WTH EMS is requesting $419,000 yearly beginning July 1, 2023, with an increase of 2 percent or inflation equivalent each year”. The cost is in addition to WTH EMS billing patients insurance for their service.
A representative from WTH EMS was present at Wednesday’s meeting and made a presentation to the ambulance committee on serving all of Hardeman County. The offer presented to the ambulance committee included staffing four ambulances to serve the entire county. Currently, Hardeman County Ambulance Service staffs two ambulances and WTH EMS-Bolivar staffs two ambulances, though through a mutual aid agreement they assist each other when needed.
WTH EMS’s proposal to Hardeman County comes with a cost of approximately $860,000. While some were opposed to the county spending that much, others considered it a wash since Hardeman County Ambulance Service operates with a deficit each year.
Wednesday’s meeting ended without the ambulance committee forming a recommendation to present to the Hardeman County Commission. They instead decided to meet again and continue the discussion.
The issue is also expected to be discussed at the regularly scheduled Bolivar City Council meeting on Monday, July 10, 2023. If the Bolivar City Council decides not to pay the subsidy requested by WTH EMS, Bolivar’s EMS service could revert back to Hardeman County’s Ambulance Service.
Click here to watch the full meeting of the Ambulance Committee.
Click here to watch the EMS discussion at the County Commission meeting. EMS discussion begins at the 42 minute mark.
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