Chickasaw Co. Supervisors Mull Collection of Ambulance Payments

Chickasaw County Supervisors are again mulling whether to waive payments from the six cities “contractually” served by Chickasaw County EMS.

The County has 28E agreements with New Hampton, Fredericksburg, Bassett, Ionia, Lawler and North Washington to help subsidize the County’s ambulance service with payments to the County every three months. However, those quarterly payments are waived when the EMS operating fund is $750,000 or higher for two consecutive quarters.  In July, that fund dipped below the $750,000 threshold, yet Supervisors agreed to not ask for a payment. Thus, the cities haven’t been asked to make payments for over two years.

EMS Director Joel Knutson reported to Supervisors Monday that Medicare and Medicaid payments are having impacts on the operating fund, but even if the “pool cash” is below the $750,000 threshold, he thinks they’ll be ok.

Still, Supervisor Jacob Hackman expressed caution about long term finances should any large expenditures come up, such as the eventual purchase of an ambulance to replace any that may age out of service.

Supervisor Steven Breitbach added that the County also has the option of not asking for full payments from the cities.

Supervisors took no action on the ambulance payments last week, with plans to discuss and possibly make a decision at their meeting this Monday (10.20).