05/27/1980 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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. base rate--$85; mileage--$4 per mile round trip for a cost of $24 since the bill will show six miles (from MSI's headquarters on West 11th to the Council Chamber to Sacred Heart and back to MSI's head- quarters, which would be billed even if they did not return to the headquarters); emergency service (red lights and sirens)-- $20; night service (6 p.m. to 8 a.m.)--$20 (night service and emer- gency service are billed for insurance purposes according to what Mr. Anderson was told by MSI); service time (waiting time)--$75 per hour billed at $1.25 per minute (every minute the ambulance is not rolling) (assuming ten minutes here and five minutes at the hospital the charge would be $18.75 for waiting); orthopedic care (even if the firefighters had already set the leg and had it on ice)--$20; supplies--cardboard splint, $5 (which the firefighters Day $.50 for); one multitrauma dressing, $3.30, two ice packs (at $4.50 each)--$9 (two years ago retail they were $1.25); and account service charge-- $13.25. e Mr. Anderson said MSI knows that most insurance companies do not pay within 30 days so they add on the account service charge, and patients are responsible for the bill being paid within 30 days. MSI will help you try to collect from their insurance company. The total cost for a broken arm or leg in the Council Chamber would be $218.30 if the patient were taken to Sacred Heart hospital. In addition, if shock is apparent, $40.50 is added for process and supplies for an intravenous solution for a total of $258.85. Mr. Anderson stated that Mr. Leonard is trying to blame all of his financial problems on the union, although his financial problems have happened within the last six months. The paramedics have not had a raise within the last six months. Mr. Anderson further stated there is no way to compare the value or quality of the service to the amount charged, but he submits they are not getting value for the dollars spent. Mild disruption and clapping occurred; Mayor Keller brought the meet- ing back to order. Jim Bard, 695 Spruce, Junction City, stated he is a former employee of MSI. As a paramedic, he must respond to situations where death is imminent. In cardiac arrests, they hook up the EKG to monitor heart activity and in a number of cases~ they have been too late. If the paramedics could get there earlier, the patient could be saved. He said there is a need for more substations. Four to six minutes after the heart stops, death begins. MSI's average response time is 6.9 minutes and he maintains that that is not life saving. In 1978, Mr. Leonard said he would build six substations. None have been built. $156,000 was brought in in the membership drive and $80,000 was spent for expenses for that drive, but there is still no substation. e 5/27/80--5