May 06--AUBURN -- The city will create its own ambulance service, councilors agreed Monday.
City Manager Clinton Deschene said he expects the new service will cost the city $720,468 more in the next year but bring in $987,551 in new revenue.
"This is not a diminishment of service," Deschene said. "It's either an enhancement, an improvement or just maintaining the status quo."
Councilors were unanimous in their support.
"I have been in favor of the proposal since October," Councilor Tizz Crowley said. "It's not a group decision."
Auburn currently sends medically-trained firefighters to most medical emergencies reported in the city. Those crews stabilize patients, and then hand them off to United Ambulance personnel when they arrive. The city cannot bill insurance companies for those costs because they do not transport patients. Insurers only pay for transporting patients.
It's not the first time Auburn has considered the move. The city investigated the idea in 2008. United Ambulance agreed to pay the city $100,000 per year and to provide medical supplies to fire crews providing medical response.
That deal is scheduled to end and the city and the ambulance company have been working to negotiate a new deal.
Under the new model, Auburn Fire Department will take some of its existing rescue staff and have them work as emergency medical responders. The city will lease two ambulances, stationing one at Minot Avenue station and one on Center Street.
The city could also consider replacing an engine with a multipurpose fire vehicle.
"This is a no-new-staff model that will reduce the amount of apparatus in some regards," Deschene said.
Not everyone agreed. Former City Councilor Dan Herrick said it was a bad idea.
"But in a way, I really want the city to try it," Herrick said. "I truly do because you're going to lose because you are using fictitious numbers."
City Councilor David Young said he didn't think it would be a money-maker for the city.
"I don't think that's the reason we should do this," he said. "There is quite a bit of support in public for having the Fire Department do this. I expect we'll lose money on this, but not a lot. So I will vote for it."
Copyright 2014 - Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine
