GROVETON — Trinity County Commissioners opted to seek bids for a year’s worth of helicopter ambulance service instead of outright renewing an existing contract with PHI Air Medical Services.
At the Nov. 12 meeting, the Commissioners Court heard public forum comments from other services about their offerings, and that because of federal laws protecting patients from outrageous medical bills, renewing the PHI Cares Membership might not be necessary.
For two years, the court has contracted with PHI, at a cost of about $45,549 per year, for a service that would mean that county residents would have no out-of-pocket costs for medical emergencies requiring air transport.
Jared Lee of HCA Houston Healthcare said the No Surprises Act would mean that patients would not be hit with huge financial burdens, and that emergency personnel shouldn’t opt for PHI when other services are closer.
However, HCA does not offer a similar plan.
Bradley Baucom of Air Evac said that PHI may have been used exclusively but may not have been the closest option. He also said Air Evac does have a similar plan.
Michelle Chaisson of PHI said they have transported 39 patients, and there has been no out-of-pocket expenses for those people, including deductibles. She also said 19 percent of the county population were uninsured, and they benefit as well.
She also said that the dispatch office will ultimately determine what service to call, and PHI is not necessarily exclusive.
Commissioner Neal Smith questioned the benefit to PHI, since the annual cost doesn’t even cover the cost of one flight.
Since other companies offer services, the court opted to seek bids and tabled the measure.
In other business, the court:
•denied setting a public hearing on abandoning Landrum Road near Apple Springs as not all landowners had approved a petition to close it;
•approved a plat for the Dogwood Forest subdivision;
•approved participation in the National Displaced Worker grant program;
•approved a grant of $10,000 to Martin Senior Center of Trinity for home-delivered meals;
•approved disaster-related purchases;
•approved the renewal of surety bonds for county employees and elected officials;
•approved an $8,000 payment from contingency funds for an engineering invoice for the firm helping the county update its subdivision regulations;
•approved issuing a county cell phone to the Veterans Officer;
•approved items for salvage or surplus;
•approved a maintenance service agreement with All Around Electrical Services for generator maintenance;
•approved beginning the application process to seek funds from the Disaster Recovery Reallocation Program;
•approved seeking proposals for a grant administrator for the Community Wildlife Defense Grant;
•approved allocating surplus road materials;
•approved bids on tax resale properties; and
•approved an agreement with Joe Ned Dean for the county to access property for road work.
