MOAD Board approves raising BLS, ALS rates

By Laura Schiermeier, Staff Writer
Posted 1/12/22

VIENNA — At the December meeting, the Maries-Osage Ambulance District (MOAD) Board voted to increase the district’s rate for basic life support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) for …

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MOAD Board approves raising BLS, ALS rates

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VIENNA — At the December meeting, the Maries-Osage Ambulance District (MOAD) Board voted to increase the district’s rate for basic life support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) for non-emergency and emergency transports.

District Administrator Carla Butler said six other ambulance services were contacted so the board members could compare rates. 

The new rate will be $700 for BLS non-emergency and emergency transports. This is an increase from the previous BLS rates of $640.

The new rate ALS non-emergency and ALS emergency transports will be $840. This is an increase from the previous ALS non-emergency and energy rate of $780.

The current ALS 2 emergency rate of $1,120 will remain the same. Also staying the same is the treat-no transport rate, which is $152. 

The ambulance district’s mileage rate was increased from $17.50 per mile to $18 per mile.

In comparing MOAD rates with other ambulance districts in the area, Owensville Ambulance had the lowest rates, following by Dixon. Steelville and St. James Ambulance services had the highest rates. 

MOAD, along with other ambulance districts, has seen an increase in costs of many items, including medical supplies.

In other business at the December MOAD Board meeting:

—Butler reported they are still working on the cradle point modem in the trucks for the Zoll cardiac monitors. The cradle point provides internet so the Zoll monitors can transmit patients’ EKG strips to the hospital but it’s still not working. 

One of the medics, Chip Smack, recently worked with the cradle point company and AT&T people and they think it needs a different router, a Night Hawk card, and a FIRSTNET SIM card used by first responders. 

—It was reported the needed insulation has been installed in the ceiling at the Vienna Base.

—MOAD has a new cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) instructor as new EMT and now new CPR Instructor, Hanna Testerman, took the necessary classes at the American Red Cross and is now certified as an instructor by the American Heart Association. CPR is an emergency procedure consisting of chest compressions often combined with artificial ventilation in an effort to manually preserve intact brain function until further measures are taken to restore spontaneous blood circulation and breathing in a person who is in cardiac arrest. 

—Butler is a public member of the 911 Advisory Council. The council meets quarterly.

—The board approved the budget for the first six months of 2022, which had income and expenses for half the year of $382,000. 

There were some increased and decreased line item expenses for the entire year which Butler detailed for the board members. 

The line item changes include an increase of $60,000 in combined payroll and payroll taxes; decrease of $1,000 in education/training costs; a new $1,500 line item for monthly lunch for employees, buying a gift card when an employee does a good job with a task given, appreciation, and reimbursement for meals on transfers; increasing ambulance maintenance by $1,000; increasing medical supplies by $4,000; decreased office expense by $3,000, increased building and vehicle insurance by $2,000; increased professional fee by $1,000; decreased building/upkeep by $21,000 because of paying off Freeburg Base building and putting the savings toward payroll budget; and increasing utilities by $2,000. 

The annual increase in expenditures is estimated at $41,500 from the 2021 budget.

—Board member Laura Stratman filed to retain her position for Subdistrict 4, and board member Laura Miller filed to keep her position as the member from Subdistrict 1.

—The board approved the November financial report, which stated November income at $38,584.55 and total expenses at $45,136.61 for a negative net income of $6,552.06.

Of the November income $3,550.96 was Maries County taxes, $86.10 was Osage County taxes, $17,982.41 was service fees, $70.38 other income, $894.81 collection agency, $15,984.75 sales tax income, and $15.14 interest income. 

—In the operations report, total ambulance responses during November were 76 with 48 in the Vienna zone and 28 in the Freeburg zone.

Of the Vienna responses, one was a life threat-emergency, 26 were urgent emergencies, 20 were dry runs, and one was a routine non-emergency. 

Of the Freeburg responses, 12 were urgent emergencies, nine were dry runs, and seven were routine non-emergencies. 

—The board discussed the automated external defibrillator (AED) units MOAD wants to give away. These are portable electronic devices that automatically diagnose the life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias of ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia. Holy Family in Freeburg is interested as is Guardian Angels Parish in Brinktown, which will be up to the church board to decide. MOAD Board Vice President Steve Maxwell said he will reach out to Turkey Hill to see if they want to keep what they have and also that they will keep up with the pads and batteries for the AED. 

Butler said MOAD owns seven AED units and wants to donate them within the communities because the ambulance district does not need them on the trucks as this function is on the Zoll monitors. 

—The board was informed of the recent public relations events. The ambulance was in the Westphalia Christmas parade. Also, in Linn they participated in the Shop with a Super Hero for Osage County children. The organization had money donated and MOAD crew and other first responders took a child to Dollar General with $100 to spend, and also to Thriftway with $100 to purchase food. Then an organization helped wrap the gifts and the kids had the opportunity to explore the cop cars, ambulances and fire trucks. 

The ambulance district also plans to do PR event in Vienna during Catholic Schools Week, which is at the end of January and at the beginning of February.

—The board approved the audit proposal from Graves & Associates for $7,000 for this year’s audit. This is a price increase of $580.

—MOAD has asked Osage Dispatch to reduce the district’s annual $4,000 bill for dispatching. Butler said it has to be the decision of the Osage County Commission. She was told they would think about it. 

—Butler said MOAD recently recognized two EMT’s, Amanda Reichel and Francy Runge, giving them gift cards and key chains for their outstanding work ethic. On a particular day they were both off duty and Medic 81 was on a call to the hospital. A Freeburg call came in and the two EMTs took the spare ambulance and responded to the call. Butler said they didn’t have to do this, but they did because they take pride in the community and in their jobs. 

—Butler said Osage Ambulance asked if MOAD is interested in a ride-along program for EMT students. Butler said yes, because it is another avenue to obtain employees. The students have to sign a waiver before going on an ambulance call. 

—Heather Pratt is the Medic Liaison Nurse for Mercy in Washington, MO. She came to visit and go over MOAD’s quality assurance. The goal is to meet with Pratt twice a year.

—Butler reported to the board Phelps Health has a 24-hour cardiac Cath lab. MOAD took its first patient there on a mutual aid call with Ozark Central Ambulance District.