10/13/1980 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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" ~ personnel. They are operatinq with more ~MT's 1 than previously. Other person- nel are oracticinq under provisional licenses. The medical community feels that . the patient care is unacceptable which has resulted in standinq orders beinq removed. The council is beinq asked to quarantee a profit to a corporation which has shown it cannot produce stable service delivery to the community. Doinq what is proposed could create more of a financial niqhtmare for the future. MSI's rate structure is poorly desiqned. The chanqes should be able to be lumped toqether better to simplify the structure. Mr. Delay stated that he is discouraqed and is not pleased with the alternative of bailinq MSI out. He feels the rouncil should explore other possibilities, such as settinq up a pr~vate non-profit corporation. Governmental jurisdictions and representatives from the medical community possibly could help to create a different delivery mech an ism. He does not see how a decision can be made on October 15. Ms. Smith noted that options could be discussed at this meetinq. Mr. Obie stated that havinq inadequate time available is frustratinq. He feels a tempo- rary rate increase miqht have to be approved while waitinq for a ,recommendation from the task force. He feels MSI has had ample opportunity to communicate with the council. He thinks Mr. Delay's suqqestion should be explored. Mr. Henry stated that Sprinqfield City Council approved the base rate increase request continqent upon Euqene's approval. At that hearinq, representatives from MSI did not seem to know what they were requestinq and said that an increase of only the base rate was sufficient. They are now requestinq a more extensive increase. Mayor Keller asked which MSI representatives were at that meetinq and Mr. Henry responded that the representatives were Wes Morqan and Kim Short. Mr. Henry stated that the council does not have to act October 15~ they have at e least another week. The options are to let MSI qo bankrupt or to approve an increase. Also, another qroup is considerinq purchase of the operation. Mr. Obie stated that the Creditors' Committee may present the court with the riqht course of action. Mayor Keller stated that there are no easy answers. Medical care has a tremendous impact upon the community. Mr. Lieuallen stated that the cost is not as larqe an issue as internal manaqe- ment or quality of care in the field. He has talked with emerqency room doctors and they have stated that they have no confidence in the current staff. All reports have not been received but he is not inclined to approve any rate increase. There is a severe lack of proper manaqement. People who took it over do not have the experience in ,the field. Unless someone buys MSI out, he is inclined not to approve a rate increase. Ms. Miller stated that when requlatinq rates, the company must be allowed a fair profit, but the public must be protected also. In return for qrantinq of a monopoly, the public must be quaranteed that rates are reasonable. It sounds as thouqh this company has not been well manaqed and the new manaqers may be unable to run the company on a sound basis. A temporary rate increase may have to be qranted but they may need to take an active role in findinq someone to handle the company. Many questions have been raised about the quality of care. Mr. Delay stated that when the City first started requlatinq rates, special traininq for ambulance personnel was not required, but since then, hiqhly trained personnel provide advanced life support in the field. An EMT 4 is a e MINUTES--Euqene City Council October 13, 1980 Paqe 7