Health Department to aid new EMS Department

By Mary Zielinski
Posted 12/19/19

Following a brief presentation from Danielle Pettit-Majewski to the Board of Supervisors on Dec. 10, the board approved a motion authorizing her and Supervisor Richard Young to consult with the …

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Health Department to aid new EMS Department

Posted

Following a brief presentation from Danielle Pettit-Majewski to the Board of Supervisors on Dec. 10, the board approved a motion authorizing her and Supervisor Richard Young to consult with the county attorney to meeting regulations, procedures and protocol to meet NPI (National Provider Identification) and CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) regulations as part of the administration of the newly created county EMS Department.

Pettit-Majewski, director of the county Public Health Department, detailed a number of concerns, including that to keep critical care services, the department would need appropriate staff as well as critical care endorsement.   

Equally important – which led to the authorization motion – is obtaining appropriate numbers assigned to the county for billing to Medicaid and Medicare, something that could take up to six months. 

So, as she noted, it is important to get a director in place to help facilitate that  as soon as possible. Even more, the director is needed before hiring staff.

The Ambulance Advisory Committee had previously noted that the hiring process would include three to five people – two from Board of Supervisors, one from Human Resources of Washington County and subject matter experts.

Both Pettit-Majewski and Young stressed that the new department needs to be in place by July 1 with Young adding, “Right now, we don’t know what we will have exactly by July 1.”

The vote was 4-0 with Young, who is the director of the privately owned Washington County Ambulance Service, abstaining. The private service will close at midnight June 30.