SOUTH PARIS – Taken aback by a proposed hike in fees, the Oxford County commissioners on Tuesday discussed changing ambulance services for the county’s unorganized territories.
Commissioner David Duguay said the board of directors for Med-Care Ambulance of Mexico “voted to allow their director, Dean Milligan, to provide us with several proposals.”
One will include estimated costs for covering unorganized territories in just northern Oxford County, a second would also include coverage for Milton Township, and a third would also include coverage for Riley Township.
Med-Care did have a concern about sacrificing quality of patient care to provide a good price, Duguay said. But serving a larger area also may make the ambulance company eligible for more grant money, he said.
“I have no problem with them taking over if the price is right,” commission Chairman Steve Merrill said. He urged Duguay to continue researching the issue.
Tuesday’s discussion came as a result of a request from NorthStar Emergency Medical Services for more money to provide ambulance services in the unorganized townships and plantations of Oxford County.
At an April 19 meeting, NorthStar Director David Robie said Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington is consolidating ambulance services for Franklin and Oxford counties. The result would be a $6,226 hike in service costs for the county.
According to Administrative Assistant Carole Mahoney, Oxford County was billed $4,938 for ambulance services in the unorganized territories in 2004. For the fiscal year starting in July, however, the county is being asked to pay $11,204.
The commissioners also on Tuesday met in executive session to discuss labor negotiations with the Oxford County Sheriff’s Department.
Mahoney said no action was taken following the closed-door meeting.
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