JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. — People on the cutting edge of the ambulance coverage woes in Clark County, Indiana brought up a new provider for the first time Tuesday; Heartland Ambulance Service based in Muncie, Indiana.
"As a county, we need to be able to say, 'No matter -- where you're out in the county, if you call 911 and need [Advanced Life Support] coverage, we can provide that,'" Clark County Health Officer Dr. Eric Yazel said.
The EMS subcommittee voted unanimously Tuesday to send a recommendation to the County Commissioners for a three-month contract with Heartland, with the hopes that it can start Aug. 1. According to Yazel, Heartland can provide four Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances for $130,000 in month one, $110,000 in month two, and $103,000 in month three.
Yazel said the contract is still being negotiated. Copies of the contract were not being handed out at Tuesday's meeting.
New Chapel EMS is currently being paid $87,500 per month to staff a total of six units every day, however a spokesperson said last week the organization hasn't billed the county for that amount in two months, because it knows the level of coverage has not been adequate.
"I think you'll see some sliding of some subsidies that happens, to where, if New Chapel is getting a certain amount of a subsidy...if they're not providing that service, then I think they'll get less of a subsidy going forward," Yazel said.
If the "trial" three-month contract is approved, New Chapel and Heartland would both be covering the whole county together. Yazel said during the meeting that Heartland's offer "is contingent on them being the dispatch in this scenario with a subsidy ask through 911."
"So the proposal provides for them to deploy our assets?" New Chapel CEO Matt Owen asked.
"I think they would deploy --that's a great question. I think their, their proposal is contingent on them being essentially the primary dispatched provider on this, but would work with you guys in a mutual aid kind of setting," Yazel responded.
New Chapel EMS spokesperson S. Coy Travis sent the following statement about Tuesday's vote and meeting to WHAS11 News:
"New Chapel appreciates its continued partnership with Clark County as we work to address EMS issues. Clark County officials have repeatedly said that their short-term goal is to supplement the services provided by New Chapel until we are once again fully staffed. We look forward to seeing the final recommendation from the EMS Advisory Board and the solution chosen by the Commissioners, and we hope that they reflect this stated goal."
The general understanding around the meeting table was that this was a "short-term" plan, and a whole different ambulance coverage plan would likely be needed when New Chapel EMS' contract ends on Dec. 21, 2026.
Bryan Glover, the president of the Clark County Commissioners, is not on the EMS subcommittee, but sat-in on the meeting. He said the commissioners will likely vote on this three-month contract on Aug. 1.