Sweetwater Medics to increase rates

In an effort to provide more sustainable business, Sweetwater Medics ambulance service is going to raise its rates.

During the Sweetwater County Commission meeting Tuesday morning, Sweetwater Medics director, Ron Gatti addressed the Commission about the proposed rate increases.

“We need a long-term way to create a system in the county that’s more sustainable and better for the county,” Gatti said.

The decision to raise rates came when Gatti learned from a Safetech Solutions consultant Sweetwater Medics is charging lower than the national average for its tranports. For an Advanced Life Support 1 non-emergency transport, it will now cost $1,800, up from $1,052, while an ALS 1 emergency transport will cost $3,000, up from $1,082. For a Basic Life Support 1 non-emergency transport it will cost $1,250, up from $650, while a BLS 1 emergency transport is $1,700, up from $702. An ALS 2 transport will cost $3,500, up from $1,352, while a specialty care transport will cost $4,000, up from $1,716.

Commissioner Roy Lloyd wanted to know if the insurance companies are going to pay for it.

Gatti said some of them will and some won’t.

“We’re trying to increase revenue, but we don’t know if they’re going to pay it,” Gatti said.

Once Gatti found out Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County had no desire to take over the county’s ambulance service, he called Castle Rock Hospital District to let them know he still felt one service would benefit the entire county. He would like to set up a meeting with them to discuss it further.

Commissioner Wally Johnson asked when Sweetwater Medics is going to go bankrupt.

Gatti said thanks to the help of the county, they are doing OK for now. He’s hoping this rate increase will provide the sustainable funding the ambulance service needs.

However, he wants to work with Castle Rock and come up with a solution that will save both of them money.

“I believe that with all my heart,” Gatti said.

Gatti was also asked why he waited until now to raise the rates when the consultant provided him with this information in August. He said he was waiting to see whether or not the hospital wanted to take over the ambulance service. As soon as he received word they weren’t interested, he decided to raise the rates.

Lloyd asked him why the rates haven’t been increased yearly as part of their business model. Gatti said he should have been raising them yearly and he didn’t realize how much lower their rates were than the national average.

“We just want to be able to pay the bills,” Gatti said.

Since the county has given the ambulance service funding, Gatti wanted to make sure they were aware of the increase.

 

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