NEW AMBULANCE SERVICE TO BE CHOSEN SOON 

Mike McCagg

ccSCOOP News

06-28-10- 9:10 a.m. - A new ambulance service for the northeastern portion of Columbia County could be chosen by the end of July, an official told ccSCOOP.

Empire, a Rensselaer County emergency services provider, and Northern Dutchess Paramedics have both expressed an interest in taking over the Lebanon Valley Protective Association services, but officials say the three finalists are all Columbia County ambulance squads. The rescue squads interviewed— Valatie, Greenport, and Chatham—are all based in the county and are “all very good companies with ALS services,” said Canaan Supervisor Ricahrd Keaveney. ALS stands for "Advanced Life Support," meaning a rescue squad staffs paramedics. LVPA currently does not, responding to medical calls with emergency medical technicians (EMTs) providing the care.

Keaveney said the committee decided to not interview Empire, which is currently contracted by LVPA to provide daytime coverage in LVPA’s district, or Northern Dutchess in the first round of interviews, and he indicated that it does not appear there will be a need to interview them at this time.

The fate of ambulance coverage in the Town of New Lebanon and in part of the Town of Canaan east of County Route 5 was thrown into turmoil earlier this year when it came to light that state law prohibited volunteer fire companies from billing for emergency medical services. The LVPA ambulance service is part of the fire company and had billed to cover about a third of its annual budget. Without the ability to bill for its medical service, the towns of Canaan and New Lebanon would have to make up a $100,000 shortfall in the LVPA’s annual budget of approximately $343,561, LVPA member and former EMT Bud Godfroy said. Since that was not an option, the LVPA will give up its certificate of need for ambulance coverage for the district, allowing another provider to come in.

Keaveney said the committee, which consists of two members from each town board, will meet in early July and is expected to make a recommendation to the Canaan and New Lebanon town boards at that meeting. The recommendation could be in time for the town boards to take action during their respective July meetings. Despite that expectation, the two towns have sent a letter to the LVPA advising that the towns would like to retain LVPA ambulance service into next year in the event a new provider isn’t selected. “I can’t imagine that happening, but we wanted to sent the letter,” said Keaveney.

Godfroy, who has pushed the towns to make a decision and tried unsuccessfully to start a new all-volunteer ambulance service in the community in the wake of the state ruling, said he was disappointed in the selection process thus far. He said he had been in contact with town officials and couldn’t get answers about the status of the selection process. “Nobody seems to be forthcoming with any information about what is taking place. . . . As a taxpayer, it is just annoying,” said Godfroy.