Elyria council finance committee approves studying ambulance service options

ELYRIA — The city is considering launching a study into the cost and feasibility of operating its own municipal ambulance service, rather than contracting for the service. City Council's Finance Committee voted unanimously in favor of the city entering into a contract with Fitch and Associates of Missouri to explore the costs and possibilities of the city running its own ambulance service, sticking with LifeCare or exploring other third party ambulance companies. The proposed contract for the study would cost just under $70,000 and Mayor Kevin Brubaker said the study is expected to be completed within six months. The contract will have to go before Council as a whole for final approval. Last February, City Council voted 8-2 in favor of signing a four-year contract with LifeCare Ambulance, agreeing to pay $126 per non-transport ambulance run that LifeCare makes. It was the first contract in the decadeslong history between the city and LifeCare in which the city agreed to pay the company a stipend, and that new cost sparked discussion over whether the city should run its own ambulance service through the Elyria Fire Department. "This administration was compelled to do a study about what it would cost, is it feasible for us and what it would look like," Brubaker said. "They're going to evaluate what's currently happening with LifeCare, they're going to conduct a fiscal analysis of EMS within the city, they are going to assess the feasibility of the fire department providing transport and then ultimately conducting an analysis looking at what other alternatives are." Brubaker said the study would allow Council to make an educated decision on the future of emergency transport in the city as it enters the second year of the current LifeCare contract. The current LifeCare contract runs through February 2028, and includes a one-year option where the two sides can agree to extend the contract for a fifth year. LifeCare has come in well under the budget the city had set out, charging roughly $273,000 for the first 11 months of the agreement while the city had budgeted for $400,000. The city currently pays LifeCare $126 for every non-transport run that LifeCare makes, which are emergency calls which LifeCafe arrives at but does not take anyone to the hospital. If no patient is taken to the hospital, LifeCare cannot bill Medicare, Medicaid or insurance. Brubaker said that both LifeCare and local medical care facilities were aware that the city was planning to investigate its options. Technically the administration does not need Council's approval for the study because the contract is under the $75,000 threshold that requires Council authorization, but Brubaker said he wanted to get Council's input on the idea. Contact Owen MacMillan at (440) 329-7123 or omacmillan@chroniclet.com.