Plain Twp. Puzzled By Mysterious $11K Invoice
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
LEESBURG - The $11,000 invoice showing charges from Multi-Township EMS, dating back to 1996, has the Plain Township Board of Trustees in a quandary.
They had no clue the bills existed until last month and they've all served on the board since 1996.
Plain Township EMS services does not have a paramedic on staff. When a call comes in requiring a paramedic (shortness of breath, known heart conditions, trauma) a Multi-Township EMS ambulance carrying a paramedic has been automatically dispatched.
Persons transported by ambulance have been receiving two billings - one from Plain Township and one from Multi-Township.
The snag, according to trustee Claudia Archer, has been how Medicare payments are distributed.
"If a person signs over a Medicare check for ambulance services, we split the payment 50-50 with Multi-Township, if they assisted," Archer said. "If a personal check comes in to us, we keep all of it."
Both Cathy Rapp, the new Plain Township EMS director, and Archer are trying to sort out the six-year-old billings.
They will meet with North Webster Township Trustee Richard Mitchell at the end of the month to work out payments with that ambulance service, too. Apparently $2,100 is back-owed to that township also.
Plain Township only has a response contract with Prairie Township.
Archer said other services are considered guests in the township.
Board member Craig Charlton said he thought dual response between EMS services was like the agreement between fire departments. When one fire department covers or assists another they do not bill each other, but they do have contracts to help each other.
Archer reported $1,007.65 was paid out of the poor relief fund through February. This is the first year trustees generate the payments. Poor relief assistance used to be handled by the county.
Archer said there has been an increase in requests because of the rate increases given to NIPSCO for natural gas service.
Archer said the HELP 2001 program, available through the Lilly Foundation, is available to people whose income is above the poverty level. However, they must present a utility disconnect notice to qualify.
Archer presented a request by Linda Haughee regarding monies from the township for a 4-H Club. She said townships do support clubs from their recreation accounts but Plain Township never has.
The township gives $1,400 each year to the Leesburg Summer Youth League.
Chairman Jerry Kammerer asked what club she led and Archer said she didn't know.
The board said she could submit a proposal requesting funds for the 2002 budget.
Kammerer asked about a recent emergency call to the Methodist Church. He said it took 15 minutes for the EMS crew to arrive.
Archer said she knew about the incident and the ambulance was transporting a patient to Kosciusko Community Hospital at the time. The second ambulance crew was not on standby.
Archer said it took 10 minutes for the EMS crew to arrive at the church because they were coming from Warsaw.
"When we have a need we need the quickest response," said board member Martha Meier.
In other business the board:
• Discussed the purchase and payments for a generator which would provide an emergency power source.
• Set the next board meeting for April 10 at 7 p.m.
Plain township board of trustee members are Jerry Kammerer, Martha Meier and Craig Charlton. [[In-content Ad]]
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LEESBURG - The $11,000 invoice showing charges from Multi-Township EMS, dating back to 1996, has the Plain Township Board of Trustees in a quandary.
They had no clue the bills existed until last month and they've all served on the board since 1996.
Plain Township EMS services does not have a paramedic on staff. When a call comes in requiring a paramedic (shortness of breath, known heart conditions, trauma) a Multi-Township EMS ambulance carrying a paramedic has been automatically dispatched.
Persons transported by ambulance have been receiving two billings - one from Plain Township and one from Multi-Township.
The snag, according to trustee Claudia Archer, has been how Medicare payments are distributed.
"If a person signs over a Medicare check for ambulance services, we split the payment 50-50 with Multi-Township, if they assisted," Archer said. "If a personal check comes in to us, we keep all of it."
Both Cathy Rapp, the new Plain Township EMS director, and Archer are trying to sort out the six-year-old billings.
They will meet with North Webster Township Trustee Richard Mitchell at the end of the month to work out payments with that ambulance service, too. Apparently $2,100 is back-owed to that township also.
Plain Township only has a response contract with Prairie Township.
Archer said other services are considered guests in the township.
Board member Craig Charlton said he thought dual response between EMS services was like the agreement between fire departments. When one fire department covers or assists another they do not bill each other, but they do have contracts to help each other.
Archer reported $1,007.65 was paid out of the poor relief fund through February. This is the first year trustees generate the payments. Poor relief assistance used to be handled by the county.
Archer said there has been an increase in requests because of the rate increases given to NIPSCO for natural gas service.
Archer said the HELP 2001 program, available through the Lilly Foundation, is available to people whose income is above the poverty level. However, they must present a utility disconnect notice to qualify.
Archer presented a request by Linda Haughee regarding monies from the township for a 4-H Club. She said townships do support clubs from their recreation accounts but Plain Township never has.
The township gives $1,400 each year to the Leesburg Summer Youth League.
Chairman Jerry Kammerer asked what club she led and Archer said she didn't know.
The board said she could submit a proposal requesting funds for the 2002 budget.
Kammerer asked about a recent emergency call to the Methodist Church. He said it took 15 minutes for the EMS crew to arrive.
Archer said she knew about the incident and the ambulance was transporting a patient to Kosciusko Community Hospital at the time. The second ambulance crew was not on standby.
Archer said it took 10 minutes for the EMS crew to arrive at the church because they were coming from Warsaw.
"When we have a need we need the quickest response," said board member Martha Meier.
In other business the board:
• Discussed the purchase and payments for a generator which would provide an emergency power source.
• Set the next board meeting for April 10 at 7 p.m.
Plain township board of trustee members are Jerry Kammerer, Martha Meier and Craig Charlton. [[In-content Ad]]