WASHINGTON

The addition of a permanent third crew for the Washington County ambulance services was a major positive step, supervisors were told Tuesday, as well as the addition of a third ambulance unit which went into service in the third quarter of fiscal 2024. The quarter also saw seven new hires, no resignations, a staff member qualify for national certification for billing coder, and two EMTs enrolled in a paramedic program.

The quarter had 637 calls for service with a “great increase” from Wellman at 78, primarily from the nursing home. The highest number was for District 1, with 458; District 2 had 185 calls. These do not include calls made, then cancelled.

Katrina Altenhofen, the interim director, noting the increase, reported that “this type of in erase also requires serious discussion of a new building and/or building expansion to meet the crew’s need.”

There is also a need for one additional office personnel to handle billing who will need office space. Currently two full-time EMTs have helped with it.

Current accounts receivable for the department total $538,019.90 with $153,367.33 involving Medicare, more than 121 days past due, which represents 29% of the total due. More than half the accounts are current.

Altenhofen detailed the issues and for the need for the billing personnel. However, she reported that at the end of the quarter, Washington County Ambulance retired $43,024.64 for participation in the Ground Emergency Medical Transport (GEMT) program. Based on last year’s billing, the county paid $41,083.24 in the matching fund program, payments that help cover what it actually costs to transport patients in emergencies and what is received from Medicaid, mileage and other reimbursements. Providers also receive extra payments based on their costs for transporting for Medicaid members in emergency ground ambulances.

The service, now in its third year, also received a mandatory on-site inspection which found the system fully compliant. The inspection is required every three years.

The quarter also saw all warranty maintenance performed on all equipment and the entire service is fully up to date in all areas.

Current staffing is eight full-time EMTs plus two EMTs for billing coder EMT duties, one AENT, nine medics, 10 part-time EMTs, and seven part-time medics.

Supervisor Jack Seward, Jr. told Altenhofen that the department is “doing a good job,” a view that met agreement from the other four supervisors. Seward also reported there will be information about a new ambulance director within a few weeks. The position currently is held by Katrin Altenhofen, interim director. It was previously held by Jeremy Peck, who was suspended by the board in October 2022.

In other business, the board held a public hearing on the amendment to amend the fiscal 2024 budget, specifically for an additional $2,738,300 in revenues and $1,604,448 in expenditures.

The board received an update about services from the East Central Iowa Council of Governments from Karen Kurt, executive director, that noted current resources are at $600,000, “which is low” but will increase as grants come in. Most recently, Riverside has received a $600,000 grant for its downtown work.

The board approved an employment change for Kasey Chown, Washington County Ambulance EMT 4-1 with a wage increase to $24.44 per hour, effective May 1; and approved Mike Roush, parts and service technician, a wage change from $24.92 hourly to $25.12, effective May 1.

The board approved a secondary roads use request from Homers for Hartzlers, a day-long benefit at Hall Park in Riverside May 4 with an anticipated participation of 750 people who RSVP’d. The use was granted on the condition that the required insurance coverage would be received before May 4.