ANDOVER —
An aging population, changes in reimbursement procedures and high unemployment has placed the ambulance service serving southeast Ashtabula County in danger, said Bob Miller, the business manager and treasurer of the Pymatuning Ambulance Service.
The Pymatuning Ambulance Service, a non-profit organization, has asked the townships and villages they service to review options as a major financial crunch has placed the service in jeopardy, said Bob Miller business manager and treasurer for the PAS.
“We contract our services to the townships and villages and they put the levies on the ballot,” Miller said. He said new taxes are not a good option as the area is financially strapped with businesses leaving the area.
“We don’t have a tax base,” Miller said.
He said the ambulance service doesn’t carry a large debt load, but has a cash-flow problem because of changes in the national health care system and a large amount of unemployed people who don’t have health insurance.
Miller said insurance companies, Medicare and Medicaid have all reduced the amount of reimbursement and the new carrier that coordinates payment for Medicare and Medicaid has created major billing issues increasing the length of time between service and payment.
“Now it is taking as much as five or six months,” Miller said.
A meeting was held last week with representatives of Andover Village Council and trustees from Williamsfield, Richmond, Andover, Wayne and Cherry Valley in attendance.
Miller asked them to help make decisions on what services to cut from the 20-person operation that presently operates one 24-hour crew and one 16-hour crew to cover the ambulance needs of the communities involved.
Miller said there are more than $500,000 in uncollected bills presently awaiting reimbursement.
“I don’t know what the answer is,” Miller said. He said some townships are considering an advance on next year’s taxes to help alleviate the short-term issue and they are looking into possible donations and grants.
The worst case scenario would be for the service to close. “It could be a danger down the line,” Miller said.
“There are many, many mandates put out there by the state and federal government, but they are never funded (by the state or federal government),” he said.
Miller said employees have already been asked to sacrifice and further cuts will hurt them badly.
Andover Village Council President Myra Brown said the meeting was very interesting and the politicians will be looking into a variety of options.
“It is a big concern. We are all going back to our constituents,” she said.
Local News
Pymatuning Ambulance Service faces financial challenge
- Local News
-
-
Local financial institutions get top marks from service
Area financial institutions earned stellar reviews in the latest report from an independent bank research firm.
-
Conneaut, GV high schools earn magazine’s accolades
Two Ashtabula County high schools have been honored by U.S. News and World Report for their scholastic achievements, according to the magazine’s website.
-
Counterfeit money being passed in county
Several cases of counterfeit bills have been reported in recent weeks, according to the Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Department.
-
27 indicted by Ashtabula County Grand Jury
EDITOR’S Note: The indictment of a person by a grand jury or otherwise is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until proven guilty. All information is taken from Ashtabula County Common Pleas Court records.
-
Public hearing today on CDBG funding
The second of two required public hearing on the Community Development Allocation Grant Program, the Neighborhood Revitalization Grant Program and Critical Infrastructure Grant Program will be today.
-
Ashtabula receives Safe Routes to School grant
Children walking to the Ashtabula Lakeside Elementary Campus soon will have a safer route to school.
-
Two charged in knife assault
Two men were charged Monday after an alleged assault involving a knife over the weekend.
-
Ohio police chief takes criminals to task online
If you’re up to no good in this pocket of northeast Ohio, especially in a witless way, you’re risking not only jail time or a fine but a swifter repercussion with a much larger audience: You’re in for a social media scolding from police Chief David Oliver and some of his small department’s 51,000 Facebook fans.
-
WINDS OF CHANGE
What started out to be a perfect day for a sailboat race, ended up being the opposite as high winds forced officials to call the race before it even got started.
-
Nice weather makes for good turnout at Jefferson Depot Village Strawberry Festival
Although storms threatened the area Sunday, sunny skies and warm temperatures prevailed, drawing a good crowd to the Jefferson Depot Village Strawberry Festival and Craft Bazaar.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Local financial institutions get top marks from service
