Funds could provide emergency ambulance runs

By Cathy Spaulding

cspaulding@muskogeephoenix.com

Emergency ambulance runs could be offered at no cost to Muskogee County residents if a proposed county-wide sales tax is approved, proponents say.

Muskogee County voters are to decide Jan. 14 on a temporary sales tax of 0.849% of one cent to fund an array of public safety facilities, projects and service, including money for emergency ambulance runs not covered by insurance. That tax would remain in effect for seven to 10 years to pay for initial buildings and equipment, then would drop to a half-cent sales tax to maintain the program.

“The county and I and others believe that public safety should not come as a cost concern when you are deciding whether to call 9-1-1,” said Muskogee County EMS Executive Director Laurel Havens.

Ambulance runs cost between

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CATHY SPAULDING/ Muskogee Phoenix Warner Police Chief Ronnie Ross squeezes between a fire truck and storage containers at Warner’s fire and police facility. He said a new facility would have more space.

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$1,300 to more than $3,000, Havens said. The money raised by the tax would offset the patient cost of an emergency run, but patient insurance would still be billed, Havens said.

Havens said EMS receives 10% of its budget from taxes.

“We make up that 90% through billing for services,” he said.

Haskell Fire Chief Caleb Brewer, vice chairman of the EMS Board, said free emergency ambulance runs are the best aspect of the sales tax proposal.

“We hear stories of an elderly person who can’t pay their bill, because they’re on a fixed income, and they’re making a dollar payment a month,” Brewer said, adding that with free emergency runs, “that would be wiped clean and if they had a ride again, they would not be charged.”

If the sales tax passes, Muskogee County would be one of the first counties not to directly charge patients for an emergency ambulance run, Havens said.

Muskogee Mayor Patrick Cale recalled a woman who died because she could not afford an ambulance run. He said the woman went on several emergency ambulance runs after falling ill. When the bills piled up, she decided not to call for an ambulance one time.

“And she died of a heart attack,” Cale said. “There’s a lot more men and women in their late 70s and early 80s who feel the same way. If they can’t afford it, they’re not going to want to do it.”

Havens said many county residents are in the same situation.

“The number one user of our service is the most vulnerable population, which means they are on fixed income,” Havens said. “A lot of people would pay their bills before they eat or buy medicine. I don’t think financial consideration should be thought of when you’re deciding to call 9-1-1.”