Rawlins County EMS restores Medicaid billing, commissioners approve repairs for two ambulances

Ryan Murray, speaking for Rawlins County EMS, said the service successfully completed Medicaid revalidation after notices that the county’s provider number had lapsed at the end of March, and confirmed yesterday that EMS can resume Medicaid billing.

Murray told the commissioners two of the county’s four ambulances—units 414 and 416—failed state inspection and are currently out of service. He presented written quotes from C.A.R. Specialist: $1,198.80 to repair unit 414 (batteries and patient-compartment heating and air conditioning) and $1,092.76 to repair unit 416 (patient-compartment air conditioning). Commissioner Alan A. Solko moved to have C.A.R. Specialists perform both repairs; Commissioner Lincoln Pochop seconded the motion, which carried.

Murray said he will submit paperwork to have the ambulances re-added to the county service permit once repairs are complete. He also reported that the pharmacy license updates are in place and that CLIA paperwork to update laboratory certification has been submitted and is pending issuance.

On staffing, Murray said some full-time EMS employees have worked 70–80 hours per week and proposed raising volunteer on-call pay from $1.00 to $2.00 per hour to encourage more volunteers to take on-call shifts; if a volunteer answers a call they would receive regular run pay in addition to the on-call stipend. Commissioners discussed the idea but did not record an approval.

Murray credited county staff for helping with billing continuity—County Clerk Rachel Finley assisted in setting up a dedicated billing email—and said Jennifer D’Amico is working on Medicare cost reporting and is on schedule to file by the end of May. Murray said the department will implement a Q&A improvement plan to catch equipment and compliance issues on shifts and noted a recent successful staffing trial in which two responders covered countywide 911 calls from McDonald.

The board recorded the executive-session personnel discussions called during the EMS portion of the meeting and returned to open session with no action taken during one of those sessions.