EMSA speaks now are you listening?

[shadows]

In the Sunday paper is printed that a ambulance run is $550 while we are throwing around the threaten charge is $1,100.

Reguardless the people should be informed the total cost including the additions of what a bill for the use of transportation to the hospital will cost.   EMSA is not a golden chariot  nor a public utility, but an organization hanging on the skirt of the city.  The failure of the public to use the ambulance, which they are not required to do, will cause more harm by waiting to know if the problem merit's the escalating cost, loosing time on medical attention needs.   Those with available cars will want to be transported in cars.

I lived in the city and the surrounding areas long before the Dr, Wife started promoting the EMSA concept and at that time only those with sever trauma were transported by ambulance.

If we want to create the illusion that EMSA is a utility then lets us make it a full utility under the control of the city.   Take the  politics out of the system and like many cities establish a uniform pricing per run and addition cost so the public can transport by car in order to save the garnishment on their substandard wages if need be .   To the millionaire a few thousand dollars in transportation cost means little but to the working poor making $10 or less an hour it means they would have to go without essential provisions.

It cost over $25. in fees each month if you have a water meter before you can have a glass of water to take your morning pills.
Such fee's is liken a strangle rope around ones neck.   The  greatest effort to increase them is changing the computer that prints the bill.

There are many residents in the twilight zone of their lives who worked for 30 cents an hour, now are confronted with fees that they have or had any way to pay.   No city has ever been able to tax themselves into prosperity but stumble over the faults of bankruptcy in trying.  

If EMSA cannot trim within their budget then let them turn it over to the fire department.

[Mike G]

Originally posted by shadows
The 60% transfers was the percentage that was published during the EMSA-Fire Department discussions.

Was that transfers or transports of overall calls?  I know at night we only do 10-20% transfers, but that's just nights.

In your evasive answer to the use of Tulsa bought rolling stock in out of town areas along with who contributes to their purchase is unanswered.

Sorry, didn't mean to sound evasive.  What do I need to explain better?  

There  is a need for the citizens to understand where and how the millions of dollars are spent.

I agree

If a fee is placed on the water billing that is no more that an open check to be fill out by EMSA as the amount can be increased at their desecration.   There are many households in the city that do not have the extra dollars to squander on a uncontrollable service.

I believe that any amount added/raised on the water bill has to be approved by city council.  

Any situation as this one being forced down the throats of the citizens they should be able to see what they are having to swallow.   They surely have an audit of all their transactions.   Where can the citizens see a copy?

That I don't know

quote:Originally posted by inteller

I live on the edge of tulsa...

--

As it is now I live 3 high speed minutes from an emergency room. If we need medical assistance I'm not waiting for the ambulance to show up as I'll be at the hospital by the time it would have arrived.

Curious where there's an emergency room, on the "edge of Tulsa", that's "three high speed minutes away."  Plus you have to take into consideration how many people don't go to the closest hospital.  I've transported numerous patients from 12th and Trenton/Quaker area that want to go to St. Francis even though Hillcrest is a few blocks away.

quote:Originally posted by shadows

Those with available cars will want to be transported in cars.
...
If EMSA cannot trim within their budget then let them turn it over to the fire department.

Those who want to go by car already can.

EMSA is one of the cheapest EMS systems in the nation to operate for tax-payers with higher care standards than most.  Plus where do you think the fire dept. will get the money for it? Through taxes.  EMSA basically supports itself.

[TeeDub]

It is times like this I am happy to live in Broken Arrow.

Our ambulance service is run by the fire department.    And they don't do transfers.

[shadows]

Quote

[EMSA is one of the cheapest EMS systems in the nation to operate for tax-payers with higher care standards than most. Plus where do you think the fire dept. will get the money for it? Through taxes. EMSA basically supports itself.]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the statement that we are trying to decipher.  EMSA is a private operation that wants to be treated as a city department without regulation.  Their income and operational cost are hidden from the general public but they want to be recognized as segmented public utility to have a place on our tax rolls though they serve other communities also.   It may be the cheapest system if we take their word for it.  If the total cost to the citizen for trip was public along with the operating cost we are intelligent enough to decide.   If it is a public utility then they should be regulated by the corporation commission on what the charges are.   The general public should vote on a franchise if it is a public utility.  If it is a department of the city then it should be operated under the supervision of the fire department.  

I understand the council meeting today was clouded by the increased fee on the water bill.  The deal has been cut and the obliging councilors were only costing the city for more electricity for lights and wearing out the furniture.    

[inteller]

tonight is the night!  get out and tell the council what you think!

[Wilbur]

Gotta love what news comes out after a proposal gets approved.  Like EMSA's utility bill program, now approved by Tulsa's City Council:

$816,000 to rebuild EMSA's cash reserves.  Do I understand correctly that is $816,000 every year?  Or does that mean another $816,000 for the general fund after year one?

$500,000 to reimburse people who signed up for Total Care under the $50 program.  Okay, what happens after year one when they are all paid off?  Another $500,000 a year for the general fund?

$181,000 for the cost of the city's utility bill assessment.  What ever that means!

Lets look further.

The program applies to single family residential customers.  Those in apartments will be informed they can sign up for the Total Care program at the same rate of $43 a year.  So, those people in single family homes, most of who already have insurance that will pay their EMSA bill, will be paying the $43, unless they specifically opt out, which you know darn well there will be a scare tactic to get everyone to not opt out.  Those people who live in apartments, many of which don't have insurance that will pay for the EMSA bill, aren't all of a sudden going to start signing up for the Total Care package any more then they already do, which means they still won't be paying for their $1100 ambulance ride.

Tulsa, you just got duped!  Tax increase #1.  Stand by for more.

[Ibanez]

I hope Mayor Taylor enjoys her 1 term.

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by Wilbur

Gotta love what news comes out after a proposal gets approved.  Like EMSA's utility bill program, now approved by Tulsa's City Council:

$816,000 to rebuild EMSA's cash reserves.  Do I understand correctly that is $816,000 every year?  Or does that mean another $816,000 for the general fund after year one?

$500,000 to reimburse people who signed up for Total Care under the $50 program.  Okay, what happens after year one when they are all paid off?  Another $500,000 a year for the general fund?

$181,000 for the cost of the city's utility bill assessment.  What ever that means!

Lets look further.

The program applies to single family residential customers.  Those in apartments will be informed they can sign up for the Total Care program at the same rate of $43 a year.  So, those people in single family homes, most of who already have insurance that will pay their EMSA bill, will be paying the $43, unless they specifically opt out, which you know darn well there will be a scare tactic to get everyone to not opt out.  Those people who live in apartments, many of which don't have insurance that will pay for the EMSA bill, aren't all of a sudden going to start signing up for the Total Care package any more then they already do, which means they still won't be paying for their $1100 ambulance ride.

Tulsa, you just got duped!  Tax increase #1.  Stand by for more.

I think it's ripe for abuse.  People who otherwise would have opted to drive to the hospital will now take the ambulance for sprained ankles and broken wrists.  I think this is going to open a huge financial drain on EMSA and you are right there will be more.

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

quote:Originally posted by Wilbur

Gotta love what news comes out after a proposal gets approved.  Like EMSA's utility bill program, now approved by Tulsa's City Council:

$816,000 to rebuild EMSA's cash reserves.  Do I understand correctly that is $816,000 every year?  Or does that mean another $816,000 for the general fund after year one?

$500,000 to reimburse people who signed up for Total Care under the $50 program.  Okay, what happens after year one when they are all paid off?  Another $500,000 a year for the general fund?

$181,000 for the cost of the city's utility bill assessment.  What ever that means!

Lets look further.

The program applies to single family residential customers.  Those in apartments will be informed they can sign up for the Total Care program at the same rate of $43 a year.  So, those people in single family homes, most of who already have insurance that will pay their EMSA bill, will be paying the $43, unless they specifically opt out, which you know darn well there will be a scare tactic to get everyone to not opt out.  Those people who live in apartments, many of which don't have insurance that will pay for the EMSA bill, aren't all of a sudden going to start signing up for the Total Care package any more then they already do, which means they still won't be paying for their $1100 ambulance ride.

Tulsa, you just got duped!  Tax increase #1.  Stand by for more.

I think it's ripe for abuse.  People who otherwise would have opted to drive to the hospital will now take the ambulance for sprained ankles and broken wrists.  I think this is going to open a huge financial drain on EMSA and you are right there will be more.

The GAUL of those a**holes at the council last night.  They REFUSED to provide numbers for an opt in plan......they just said it would be horrendously expensive.  Well guess what, I'm fixing to make it horrendously expensive for the opt out option you greedy bastards!

[Conan71]

Sounds like EMSA must have greased some palms to make that deal pass the council.

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

I think it's ripe for abuse.  People who otherwise would have opted to drive to the hospital will now take the ambulance for sprained ankles and broken wrists.  I think this is going to open a huge financial drain on EMSA and you are right there will be more.

I agree.  Does this "new program" have any caps on service calls, any way to weed out abusers?

My prediction is that the utility bill charge will only last for 1 year.  We will have a vote soon on an advalorem millage to fund EMSA.  That way, EMSA will get automatic annual funding increases due to property value increases.  (and future millage increases are possible too.)  Still smells to me; I still think the users of EMSA services, their insurance and their own pockets, should foot the bill.  If they stiff EMSA, give them fines, jail time, or community service.

[shadows]

The item on putting the of EMSA for Tulsa and the surrounding Burb's on the those who could less afford it, was a cut and dried proposition to further tax the working poor, retirees and the very limited income citizens.  The total disbursement of the tax money EMSA would receive was never made public until the meeting was held to approve it on the those who are so unfortunate as to depend on water.  The final part was when they started talking about 2.3 million dollar shortage and in the end the council says give them some 3 Million more.  [They will find a place to spend it.]

The water department should add a line on the water bill whereas those on Medicare or as most insurances cover emergencies, asking the user if they wanted to opt out of double paying on the EMSA tax.   It could be a simple line on the billing advising: "Make a check mark in the box if you are already being cover for ambulance service by health insurance or Medicare."   This would be used in lieu of getting a paper and sending it to the city water trust in asserting the person wants to opt out of double paying for the ambulance service.

The passing of the tax on the water is an illustration of a council that does not represent the total number of citizens nor recognize the struggle of an aging population of the city.  

There would be an advantage to hiring full time councilors at $100,000 dollars a year where the salary would make it more attractive to the professional politicians to run for and stay in the office.  Their duty would be to follow the trends of the citizens needs by getting out the vote.  The concept of any government is that the majority of citizens be represented.

One must remember the fire department cannot contribute to the political campaigns but EMSA seems to have all kinds of money to advertise with.

The suburbs are collecting our sales taxes that we need.   Now it seems we are going to furnish them ambulance service by further taxing our poor.    

[Double A]

I still say the fire fighters would have been a better choice for EMS service. I think if EMSA is short on cash, that the fat f*#k running EMSA should take a pay cut.

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by wavoka

I hope Mayor Taylor enjoys her 1 term.

Me too.  I supported Taylor's opponent in the primary, but I voted for Taylor in the general election, just because she was a Democrat.  I guess we all are allowed some mistakes.  Hopefully, she will be a "one hit wonder."

[Double A]