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Supes Discuss Air Ambulance Services Bill |
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Friday, 05 February 2010 |
 Amador County - The Amador County Board of Supervisors discussed the merits of a bill Tuesday that would reimburse air ambulance companies like CALSTAR for their services, ultimately tabling the discussion until certain questions can be answered. Assembly Bill 1153, as proposed by Democratic Assemblymember Jim Beall, would enhance Medi-Cal reimbursement for air medical transportation services by attaching additional fines to traffic offenses. Providers of care to Medi-Cal enrollees like CALSTAR are compensated for their services by the state. Supervisor Richard Forster, local delegate to the Regional Council of Rural Counties (RCRC), said that organization is in support of the measure, assuming some new language is included to clarify administrative duties. “Medi-Cal is what’s not being covered the way it should be anymore by the federal government,” said Forster. Supervisor Louis Boitano agreed, saying it is getting increasingly difficult for EMS agencies throughout the sate to survive. In a letter to the board, RCRC representatives said “California’s provider rates are woefully inadequate, ranking at the bottom of the fifty states.” Christian Giller, Chief Operations Officer speaking on behalf of CALSTAR, said the bill has unanimous support from air ambulance services statewide. “This bill as introduced will offset the deficit from underinsured and uninsured patients,” he said. Giller said Medi-Cal currently subsidizes about 40 percent of his company’s actual costs for air services. Supervisors expressed some skepticism over a requirement in the bill that each county establish an emergency air medical fund to deposit the levy imposed by this bill, thus creating a state-mandated local program. Giller said Medi-Cal subsidies would be collected into one fund by the state and then divvied out accordingly. Forster said a little trust in the state is needed, and “if it is built into the legislation, the money will (eventually) transfer” to the service companies. He said it’s important to remember that the “people impacting the system the most are those who can’t afford the insurance.” Board Chairman Brian Oneto said he is leery about the additional traffic fines, saying “it’s a tax and we have enough taxes already.” The Board approved a motion by Forster to send a letter expressing their concerns to Assemblymember Beall and legislative representatives including Assemblymember Alyson Huber and Senator Dave Cox. Story by Alex Lane
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 11 February 2010 )
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