Council votes to begin terminating EMS contracts outside the city

Lewiston ambulances respond ti an accident in rural Nez Perce County. (KLEW File)

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Story Published: Sep 30, 2008 at 10:14 PM PST

Story Updated: Nov 21, 2008 at 2:07 AM PST

By Matt Loveless

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LEWISTON - It's medical help in exchange for financial help.

The City of Lewiston will start terminating contracts for emergency medical services outside of the city limits. At their work session Monday, council members unanimously voted to terminate contracts with five different area entities over the next year. City Manager Jay Krauss said that includes agreements with the cities of Asotin and Clarkston, Asotin County, Nez Perce County, and Whitman County District 14, which includes Uniontown and Colton.

"I believe we'll send some kind of written notice to the agencies, establish a meeting date to confer with them and try and engage them in some good discussions," said Krauss.

Krauss recently provided the council with the financial breakdown of providing the service outside city limits. Fire officials confirmed the accuracy of the figures. Among those numbers: 40 percent of the city's EMS calls come from somewhere outside the city limits, more than $340,000 was not collected from EMS calls, and more than 750 calls weren't even billed.

"The goal was to raise awareness that there's a service provided," said Krauss. "When the City of Lewiston isn't paid for the service, it's Lewiston taxpayers that pay for the services that go uncollected."

Krauss said the City is discussing a reimbursement structure to bring in about $370,000. Krauss said he's aware of the tough spot other communities are being put in, but said the change is needed.

"The city council is recognizing how other entities are affected by it," said Krauss. "The City of Lewiston would like to maintain its partnerships, but this is one of those programs where there are some uncollectible amounts that need to be discussed."

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