Lincoln Ambulance still feeling pinch from unpaid patient bills

In 2017, the Lincoln Volunteer Ambulance expected to shut down without the passage of the mill levy that allowed the Lincoln Rural Fire Department to contract emergency medical services through the ambulance service.

The levy passed in May of that year, but adequate funding continues to be a struggle for the LVA, particularly due to unpaid ambulance bills.

"The mill levy definitely helps, but it was kind of a Band-Aid," LVA President Aaron Birkholz said.He estimates that the LVA has written off more than $300,000 in unpaid bills.

Billing is one of the main sources of funding for LVA operating costs, while the levy helps pay for insurance, maintenance and training. 

Training is an ongoing expense, as emergency medical staff must complete a certain number of hours each year to retain their licenses. Birkholz said that the LVA's emergency medical staff train anywhere from 15-50 hours each year, depending on their license level.

While the LVA does receive donations each year, Birkholz said they are intermittent and can't be counted on for income.

LVA Treasurer Laura Nicolai said donations in the past have helped cover some costs, such as safety equipment, and that grants have helped fund some equipment costs. However, as equipment wears out, it needs to be replaced. The LVA currently needs to replace one of their hydraulic lifts, which will be a significant cost.

Nicolai noted that in addition to the lifts, which aid medical staff in safely loading patients into the ambulance, other equipment like suction machines allows staff to provide extended care for patients with cardiac conditions during the trip to the hospital. Due to Lincoln's unique geographic position, ambulance services ensure patients make it to the hospital, which can often be an hour away. 

Nicolai named Birkholz in being instrumental in finding volunteers and providing training for ambulance medical staff. "He does such a wonderful job of recruitment. We've been able to save so many lives."

The Lincoln Volunteer Ambulance response area covers Rogers Pass to Stemple Pass, as well as Helmville and Ovando and is run entirely on a volunteer basis. Around 200 volunteer hours are banked each month to support emergency medical services and LVA operations. Birkholz said Powell County is working on providing some funding to the LVA, as about half of the response area is in Powell County, but that hasn't happened yet.