NEW GLOUCESTER — At a special selectmen meeting Thursday, the board and fire chief grappled with establishing the town’s first Emergency Medical System change from a non-transport community to transportation by ambulance.
Chief Gary Sacco said six used ambulances are in the pipeline for consideration for purchase. The ambulances range in model year from 2002 to 2007 with mileages from 27,000 to 123,000. Prices range from $25,000 to $55,000. Some vehicles include limited warranty provisions, while others have no warranty.
The town will spend an additional $40,000 to set up the ambulance to meet town requirements.
The board made no recommendations among the six but charged Sacco and the town’s mechanic and staff to get more information on an ambulance in New York. Sacco was directed to also “beat the bushes” for other possible solutions.
The town hopes to begin ambulance transportation in November. New Gloucester’s first-response rescue unit answers 350 calls per year. The town has relied on transportation by United Ambulance of Lewiston-Auburn for many years.
The board will contract with Freeport Ambulance Billing Services once ambulance transportation begins for all billing.
The board received proposals from two other billing companies. The start-up fee of $1,000 plus a $532 Medicare fee is required. Freeport will provide two billing cycles, up to three invoices per cycle, per run sheet. Freeport will charge $20 per billable run sheet or 6 percent of collected revenues.
Documents relating to job descriptions are being updated. The positions include per-diem advanced emergency medical technicians and paramedics who are not members of the New Gloucester Fire and Rescue but are town employees. The documents will be sent to the town attorney for review before the board gives final approval.
The pay for fiscal year 2014 for rescue department members and firefighter drivers will be a stipend when transporting to a hospital. Other rescue service responder fees are included.
Voters in May agreed to begin townwide ambulance transportation.
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