ROTTERDAM Ambulance proposals hearing Monday BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Justin Mason at 395-3113 or jmason@dailygazette.net
After years of debate, Rotterdam offi cials could decide the future of the town’s ambulance service by next month. Members of the Town Board scheduled a public hearing Monday so representatives from the for-profit Mohawk Ambulance Service and the not-for-profi t Rotterdam Emergency Medical Services can detail specifics about their recently submitted contract proposals. Supervisor Frank Del Gallo said both companies will be asked to explain how their proposals will affect the town. “Explain it in layman’s terms so we can understand it and the public can understand it,” he said this week. Del Gallo said the hope is to review the proposals through next week; the issue could fi nally come to a vote during the board’s fi rst meeting in May. The debate over whether to contract with Mohawk has raged on for more than a decade. Town offi cials first began discussing a contract with the company when the fi nancially strapped White Eagle Ambulance and Rotterdam Volunteer Emergency Medical Corps began suffering a shortage of volunteers in the late 1990s. In 2003, Mohawk offered to service Rotterdam free, provided the town agreed to disband both volunteer ambulance companies. The town instead decided to help the volunteer companies merge, which became REMS later that year. The merger started talking about setting up a tax district to support the newly formed ambulance company the following year, but the issue of a tax proved highly contentious and failed to advance for nearly fi ve years. Mohawk revamped efforts to secure a contract with Rotterdam in 2006, offering to buy the volunteer services’ buildings and supplant the town’s paramedic service. A similar proposal submitted in 2007 offered to station two advanced life support ambulances in the town 24 hours a day at an annual cost of $430,000. ........................>>>>........................>>>>...................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01400&AppName=1
“Explain it in layman’s terms so we can understand it and the public can understand it,” he said this week.
layman's terms for the public
1. THERE IS ALREADY A PAYMENT SYSTEM IN PLACE FOR AMBULANCE SERVICE 2. WE DONT NEED FOLKS THAT ARE RELATED TO US TO GET US TO THE HOSPITAL--(the cost is the same) 3. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT IS A PRIVATE COMPANY THAT'S FOR PROFIT---(the guidelines/regs are the same) 4. I'M NOT GOING TO SUBSIDISE A 'NON-FOR PROFIT' GUMBA SYSTEM 5. GET OFF MY BACK
we dont need any deal with either company....it was never a question of 'a DEAL'......It's ALS or BLS and each person is responsible for their ride payment and there IS ALREADY A PAYMENT SYSTEM IN EFFECT......WE DONT NEED ANOTHER LAYER FOR THE GUMBAS
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Well the ems "presentations" were delivered last night at the special meeting of the Town Board...hopefully this will be the last for REMS...if not, sedatives and barf bags are highly recommended for any more of the torture that is REMS.
Mohawk went first....big mistake, as it gave REMS all of the answers they would otherwise not have been able to deliver when asked the same questions. If REMS had "presented" first, Mohawk's real presentation alone would have exposed the lame, irrelevant nature of REMS' arguments.
Mohawk did a PowerPoint presentation addressing all of the relevant features of their proposal...
Their large fleet of ambulances that would provide all of the back up necessary as the ems provider....with one 24/7 fully staffed ambulance stationed in town. When that ambulance is dispatched, another is immediately sent in to cover until the first returns, or until the second is dispatched...in which case a third is sent to cover, and so forth....REMS does not have that capability. A second ambulance might be stationed when Mohawk secures a suitable building for a permanent location within the Town...REMS can only offer what amounts to one ambulance and a half....only one 24/7 and a second part time...after that, Mohawk has to cover for them as they always have.
They discussed their state-of-the-art Automatic Vehicle Locator, GPS systems and unsurpassed billing system running on more than $250K worth of custom computer software manned by 18 medical billing employees...one of which was present (Wendy) and answered questions from the Board. They also train doctors, nurses and EMTs in emergency medical service and administration.
Mohawk would generate approx. 150K per year in ALS reimbursement for the Town based on data provided by the Town and municipalities of comparable demographics...Glenville was cited...they have generated 3 million for the City of Schenectady and 7 million for the City of Albany...they were the first to offer private business partnerships with municipalities...offering an array of services that fill the many voids in ems around the region. Like the offer to Rotterdam, they do not charge some other towns/cities for ALS billing....arrangements are flexible based on the unique needs from one area to the next.
After an impressive presentation, FDG asked Mohawk to "explain the bids"...."I don't understand"...OMG.
When BG asked how long their rates would stand, Wendy from Mohawk billing explained payer's classes, fixed rates set by the government...the gov't controls about 70% of their billing limits...so other payers resist paying full prices. She went on to explain Mohawk's contracts with various insurance providers, HMOs, etc. MM asked about Glenville ALS...Mohawk explained that Glenville does not have their own paramedics and therefore has a different arrangement than we would have in Rotterdam. She also explained their policies for hardship and the uninsured...they do not charge uninsured patients who fall below a certain income level....they make payment arrangements for others...and they provide care to everyone regardless of ability to pay. MM also asked how many are uninsured in Rotterdam...the estimate is about 10%...although this has nothing to do with it since both would be serving the same population.
Overall, Mohawk's presentation was professional, relevant, and very articulately delivered to the Board and public....all questions were answered directly, thoroughly and demonstrated their superior knowledge and expertise in ALL aspects of this industry.
Now for REMS...keep the Maalox nearby.
In case no one has noticed, TJ has been conspicuously absent from these discussions over the last few weeks. As usual, REMS did not present their own non-case....this time they had another stooge standing in for head cheerleader TJ....Mr. Brodie....who as it turns out has only been with REMS a couple of years....literally read a prepared statement word-for-word...at about 100mph....rambling on and on about the whole sob story that is REMS....full of all the same statements of "faithful service"...and "compassion" and "not-for-profit" status. He had the gall to go on and state that "REMS is not collecting for ALS because they have no contract to do it". Really? Well that never stopped them before they were caught. The humane qualities REMS boasts are not unique to REMS...they ALL do this...it's the nature of the business...and REMS is not the only provider who can service the Town, as they claim in their non-proposal. They even had the nerve to stand up and ask Mohawk if they would provide "free" service at local gatherings, etc....how they plan to cover everything...which was already explained and conveniently ignored...demanding to know how they would do this with 30+ ambulances while REMS only commits to one full time and one part time ambulance!
Their entire argument is still based on nothing more than irrelevant, emotional appeals...a gigantic sympathy parade. When asked the same questions as Mohawk, their answer was unsurprisingly the same as Mohawk's.....one emt/firefighter after another...sounding off about everything wrong with the successful, self-sustaining private company they can never be...if you have nothing valid or relevant to say on your behalf, just ignorantly knock the competition.
ND asked REMS to explain how after insisting for years they could not survive without a tax that they could suddenly operate without it...they had no answer...at least not to the question asked....BG asked them to provide an estimate of ALS revenue since they are the only ones known to have been collecting it for years...a REMS employee claimed to have an answer when told us it didn't matter because it would be different every year...really...he actually said that. It was a catch 22 for REMS....and their own fault at that....if they told us how much they collected they would be caught in another lie....as they have consisently claimed no knowledge of figures or how all this money was spent. The other side would amount to an admission that they have no idea what they're doing on the business end of the operation....either way, it only raises more suspicion and unanswered questions about their disturbing history. Toward the end they pulled the "people will lose their jobs" card...well they had no business relying on governments that do not create jobs.
Two items in particular stand out in the REMS proposal. First, it is clear that REMS is fully aware of the proper ALS collection procedure and the necessary contracts associated with it....which we now know they willfully evaded. Also...the two studies commissioned on REMS were cited...but the conclusions were not simply that the Town should keep REMS...as REMS claims. Those studies concluded that IF WE ARE GOING TO KEEP REMS, then the only way for them to be self-sustaining is to run REMS as a business...with recommendations for achieving that...but REMS never wanted any part of anything like it....they insisted on continuing down the same path of failure...the socialized route.
I spoke during the public comment period...REMS et al clearly waited to get my comments out of the way in the hopes of completely blurring facts with more of the same emotional appeals with no relevance in this decision. I reiterated their grim history....the dropped calls...all the bailouts...the deceptive practices employed in advancing their tax scheme and now an alternate scheme to secure guaranteed business....the missing ALS money... their violation of the RFP rules that specifically prohibited marketing in the proposals and disqualification for violating those guidelines....especially "marketing" based on a pile of irrelevant and largely deceiptful statements....I could go on and on and on with that alone. I questioned how anyone could believe that a company with their history could be expected to suddenly and miraculously start operating in the business manner they have resisted forever...how anyone could even consider awarding REMS this critical contract under the circumstances...giving them access to the same untold amounts of money they have keeping from the Town for years.
As I have previously stated....WC is setting himself up to wimp out. He made it a point to officially disclose his son-in-law's employment with Mohawk...that he "doesn't think it's a conflict"....but has asked the Town Attorney for an "opinion"...next step of course will be to back out of voting on the issue...in other words he delivered what amounts to a campaign speech from the bench...just as irrelevant as REMS' comments.
The only way to describe REMS "presentation" is pathetic...unbelievably pathetic.
Don't know why Mohawk brought up Glenville. The town dumped them years ago because they realized Mohawk would service them anyway. Why is this relevant? Because Mohawk will service Rotterdam too...WITHOUT a contract. So if the not-for-profit ambulance company says it doesn't need a town subsidy, then what's the sense in dissolving them, when Mohawk is going to service the town anyway? Why not have two ambulance services instead of one?
Seems to me the simple call here is to sign an ALS billing agreement with both companies, that way the town gets ALL the subsidies and maintains competition in the town, so that if REMS doesn't fly straight financially...see ya...or if Mohawk decides they want a percentage of ALS fees...see ya.
Don't know why Mohawk brought up Glenville. The town dumped them years ago because they realized Mohawk would service them anyway. Why is this relevant? Because Mohawk will service Rotterdam too...WITHOUT a contract. So if the not-for-profit ambulance company says it doesn't need a town subsidy, then what's the sense in dissolving them, when Mohawk is going to service the town anyway? Why not have two ambulance services instead of one?
Seems to me the simple call here is to sign an ALS billing agreement with both companies, that way the town gets ALL the subsidies and maintains competition in the town, so that if REMS doesn't fly straight financially...see ya...or if Mohawk decides they want a percentage of ALS fees...see ya.
Don't know why Mohawk brought up Glenville. The town dumped them years ago because they realized Mohawk would service them anyway. Why is this relevant? Because Mohawk will service Rotterdam too...WITHOUT a contract. So if the not-for-profit ambulance company says it doesn't need a town subsidy, then what's the sense in dissolving them, when Mohawk is going to service the town anyway? Why not have two ambulance services instead of one?
Seems to me the simple call here is to sign an ALS billing agreement with both companies, that way the town gets ALL the subsidies and maintains competition in the town, so that if REMS doesn't fly straight financially...see ya...or if Mohawk decides they want a percentage of ALS fees...see ya.
That was not a bad suggestion ... actually quite nice to see something other than a poorly constructed rant that says nothing much at all and offers no real suggestions, data in support of statements and generated no response to her comments at last night's meeting. I found it quite interesting that two meetings in a row, the board members sat there stone faced through another citizen's comments and said absolutely nothing because there was nothing in her rant requiring a response.
That was not a bad suggestion ... actually quite nice to see something other than a poorly constructed rant that says nothing much at all and offers no real suggestions, data in support of statements and generated no response to her comments at last night's meeting. I found it quite interesting that two meetings in a row, the board members sat there stone faced through another citizen's comments and said absolutely nothing because there was nothing in her rant requiring a response.
You need to change your screen name...
I said nothing at the last meeting and unlike REMS I have supplied plenty of data to back up my statements in all venues. If you want to hear a rant, listen to the sob story that REMS substitutes for "logic"...as you do.
What you seem to find "interesting" is more like disturbing to me...a Town Board who willfully ignores the schemes of this gang trying to come up with some far out justification to award them a contract they shouldn't have...it looks like the fix is in on this one...and that you have to be a crook to get a contract in this Town.
1. they get no money from the town 2. just straight up rides to the hospital
there is already a billing system in place with very strict rules/regs and ALOT of ambiguous ones that allows the feds/state to shake down any freakin' time they want to.....
dont let fear win your minds
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
This goes beyond a simple ride to the hospital. It has everything to do with politics as usual in rotterdam. REMS is clearly scamming the rotterdamians. From missing als $$$, to forcing a vote for a taxing district that was voted down 2/1, which cost the taxpayers 10's of thousands of dollars, to their delinquent IRS taxes, to miraculously becoming a 'viable' ambulance service.
Is rems going to continue to be a non-profit???
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
This goes beyond a simple ride to the hospital. It has everything to do with politics as usual in rotterdam. REMS is clearly scamming the rotterdamians. From missing als $$$, to forcing a vote for a taxing district that was voted down 2/1, which cost the taxpayers 10's of thousands of dollars, to their delinquent IRS taxes, to miraculously becoming a 'viable' ambulance service.
Is rems going to continue to be a non-profit???
but when the 'leaders' and cheerleaders are using fear tactics by saying
"the poor seniors need a ride to the hospital" "what if the kids get hurt"
the list is endless
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Rotterdam ambulance decision nearing John Purcell 05/09/11More articles
REMS and Mohawk explain bids to Town Board
Rotterdam’s ambulance service provider could be decided in the coming weeks after the Town Board got answers to questions it had on the competing companies’ bids.
The long-awaited decision for the Rotterdam Town Board to choose between Rotterdam Emergency Medical Services and Mohawk Ambulance Service took another step forward on Monday, May 2, as both agencies gave presentations during a special meeting. While not much has changed from past proposals, REMS added free billing services and said it would give all advanced life support (ALS) revenue to the town.
Supervisor Frank Del Gallo said at the end of the meeting that the board will discuss when the vote will be set for the decision, but no clear date was given.
Councilwoman Nicola DiLeva questioned how REMS has been surviving without tax support.
“Where we’re giving you $120,000 a year and then we went out for a tax … and it did not pass and the gas was taken away … and I was told several times prior to the vote that if that did not pass, [REMS] would not be able to survive,” said DiLeva. “How are you surviving? This is the question that everybody in town wants to know.”
Peter Brodie, consultant for REMS, said the company has “taken a step back” to evaluate how it does business. Two new ambulances REMS purchased after being awarded a federal grant helped reduce the replacement expenses, which had been a strong argument for the tax district.
The biggest change to REMS, though, is a more aggressive billing procedure.
“If a town resident whose taxes contributed to operation before wasn’t able to pay or didn’t possibly pay, then we didn’t hard bill them and we didn’t aggressively pursue their payment, because their taxes helped pay for the service,” said Brodie. “Now we are hard billing … and if a patient doesn’t pay for their bill, they do go to collection.”
The tax district’s failing, said Brodie, forced REMS to re-evaluate its billing practices. If the tax district passed, REMS would have set a tax rate for the public to pay for services rendered, similar to fire districts.
DiLeva said she knows there are questions about what happened in the past with the agency and Del Gallo questioned where past ALS billing funds through a verbal agreement with the previous board. Del Gallo previously said he would pursue an audit of REMS for the ALS funds, but an audit hasn’t been completed.
On a handout given to audience members and the board, REMS listed potential revenue for the town through ALS billing in 2011 and 2012, but 2009 and 2010 were blacked out. This led Del Gallo to question if any ALS fees were collected in 2009. Chairman of REMS Board of Directors Joe VanDerwerker said he wasn’t sure.
“Who keeps the books, nobody?” asked Del Gallo.
John Jankey, from Rotterdam Fire District 3, said no one has questioned REMS’ quality of service.
“I haven’t heard anybody debate that they are getting terrible service from REMS, so why would you change something that wasn’t broke?” said Jankey. “We are arguing over money, and not quality of care.”
Mohawk, meanwhile, repeated that it is committed to finding an appropriate property to house ambulances in the town. Like REMS, Mohawk said it would commit one ambulance 24/7 to the town.
“We certainly would like to buy a building or lease it first, depending on the availability of commercial property,” said Richard Brandt, vice president of operations for Mohawk.
Some residents were concerned that Mohawk might not really set up inside the town and that if it did, it would happen slowly.
Brandt continued to stress it would look for a location within the town.
“You can’t expect us to buy a building in the hopes that we might be awarded a contract,” said Brandt.
When the vote happens, only four board members might vote.
Councilman Wayne Calder disclosed that his son-in-law works for Mohawk, which he said was one of the first thing he told fellow board members when he was elected.
“As far as I am concerned … I don’t believe because of my son-in-law’s position and job with Mohawk Ambulance, I don’t believe it makes any conflict of interest, but just to make sure I have referred this issue to our town attorney for an opinion,” said Calder. “It is too important of a decision to have anybody call it out later and say I shouldn’t have or should have voted and I don’t want to deal with that.”
Calder said he doesn’t have any financial interest in the ambulance contract being awarded to either company. He said the best interest of the town would be how he makes his decision.
Wow years 2009 and 2010 are blacked out and nobody in REMS knows if any ALS money was collected, that's some way to run a business, that's reson enough right there to deny them a contract, shady accounting. Is that how the towns share of the ALS money will be figured out too?
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