Lee County Commisison chairman wants to get proposals for private EMS service

LEESBURG — Lee County taxpayers pay roughly $2.5 million each year for emergency medical services, according to Lee County Commission Chairman Rick Muggridge. That expense is offset by collections of just $500,000, he said.

That needs to change, Muggridge believes.

“After talking to about 50 commissioners or managers across the state, I have yet to talk to anyone who is paying that much for the EMS service for a county of 30,000,” Muggridge said. “Many counties much larger are paying much less.”

Muggridge, who has been following a statewide trend of privatizing ambulance service across Georgia for several months, believes the county staff should seek proposals from private vendors.

Muggridge said the marketplace changed in Georgia when Grady Hospital in Atlanta began providing pre-hospital medical services. “They are now the largest provider of EMS services in the state,” Muggridge said.

Other major private vendors include Goldstar and Community Health, a non-profit company which recently obtained Mid-Georgia Ambulance. These private entities seek to provide emergency medical services in Georgia counties. They often provide low bids, which they can offer because of the income derived from providing non-emergency transports.

Muggridge said Mitchell County was paying $360,000 a year for its ambulance service before entering into a five-year contract with Community Health Care. Taxpayers there now pay zero, he said. He cited other examples of counties switching to Community Health Care, including Baker, from $150,000 to zero, Seminole from $250,000 to zero, Lamar, from $375,000 to zero, and Upson, also from $375,000 to zero.

Muggridge said Sumter County recently agreed to a contract with Goldstar and is a now paying zero while also reducing its response times.

Muggridge said he thinks expenses can be reduced in Lee County, but not zeroed out. “I don’t think we can go to zero because we don’t have a hospital.” he said.

“In no way is this meant to be derogatory to county employees,” Muggridge said. “I appreciate the work they do, but I think we are spending too much money on EMS service. I think we should look at every possible way we can continue to provide quality service, but look at the whole market. … We may decide this is not what the people want.

“It would be healthy for our own EMS management and the county manager to come together and see how we can provide service at a lower cost. How did our costs get so much different from the cost in other counties?”

The request for proposals plan did not meet with an immediate warm reception from other commissioners.

“I think we might be getting a little ahead of ourselves,” Commissioner Billy Mathis said. “I’d like to see us discuss our options in-house. What can we do better, more efficiently? Not only look at how going to a private system would affect our employees, which is hugely important, but affect our service.

“Many may have gone to private vendors because they didn’t have a good system like ours. … We need to look in the mirror, see what we can do to be more efficient in our own system before we start talking about just throwing it all away.

Hearing from a private vendor, Commissioner Luke Singletary said, “May help us see where we can make improvements.”

“From a human level, asking for a request for proposal may not be a delicate way to deal with our employees,” Mathis said. “Might be better to invite these people to come talk with us and gather information before we put our a proposal. It’s not a real difference, but it might be a little more sensitive.”

Muggridge said he believes it could be done simultaneously.

“The wheels of government turn very slowly,” he said. “I’m just looking for a more efficient government. When we can find efficiencies from a private vendor, I think we should look at it.”

Vice Chairman Dennis Roland, after hearing the EMS discussion, said, “I’d rather put it on the ballot and let the people make that decision.”