Thursday night, the Town of Warren, New Hampshire, is having an emergency meeting to deal with an emergency. The third-party ambulance service they use has announced that it needs a pile of money to keep operating, and if it doesn’t get it, Warren and Wentworth will lose their Ambulance services. Nearby towns say they will not be able to cover in its absence.
It sounds like extortion—protection money.
Warren-Wentworth Ambulance Services wants $150,000.00 to continue operations until March. WMUR reports that,
“The ambulance service provides ambulance coverage for Warren and one with a couple of other partial towns around the area, and they’re running out of money,” Heath said. “The insurance companies are not paying their share with 20 miles from the nearest hospital.”
According to locals, there is more to the story than that.
Several years ago we, the towns of Wentworth and Warren had an all volunteer fast squad that worked along side the all volunteer ire departments. Because of all the new requirements from state and federal governments we went to a non profit private company.
At that time the town turned over two ambulances and all the fast squad equipment to the new company. That first company had a book keeping problem too, so we replaced them with the present company that has us in this financial situation.
Each year the service ask for funds from both towns to help operate the service.
We have never been told at an annual town meeting or any other meetings about the ambulance service present problem until now.
At least two issues. First, it looks like the state and the feds made their solution unworkable. Second, this is coming at them blind.
The emergency “emergency” meeting is tomorrow.
ambulance-notice-1Members of the legislature are expected to attend, and Warren residents are encouraged to do so, as well. The concern is that taxpayers are being fearmongered into underwriting what several claim to be a poorly run company.
The service is said to have a citizen board for oversight. One contact can’t understand why – given the taxpayer backing – the Ambulance service isn’t monitored or audited or why local leaders are not maintaining transparency.
Rumors have been spread claiming it could cost up to a million dollars to drop the current provider and get a new one. That sounds like extortion.
I think someone needs to open Warren and Wentworth Ambulance services books to see how they are spending taxpayer dollars and why these two towns are having such a difficult time with insurance companies and reimbursements. Sorry. Why is the service having such a hard time (not that dealing with insurance companies is ever easy)? Do all the small towns in NH have this reticle on their backs, and if not, why?
And while we’re at it, maybe the legislature can undo whatever it did that made local volunteer EMT options so untenable. Something to get the feds off their backs while they are at it. That can’t happen for a few months – at least (probably longer), if at all, so some reconciliation is required between the towns and the provider, or Warren and Wentworth will be without ambulance services until it is.
But not without an audit, I think. Make it part of any bailout deal, perhaps?
The meeting is tomorrow, Thursday, 6-7 PM (probably longer) – Warren Town Hall, 19 Water Street. Warren, NH. I can’t be there (previous engagement). If someone is willing to take notes, get pics, or shoot some video, we’ll happily give you credit and share any bylines.
