COLUSA COUNTY, CA (MPG) – Sierra Sacramento Valley Emergency Medical Services Agency has accepted a proposal from American Medical Response West to take over ambulance services in 2024.
AMR was the sole responsive bidder for the contract, which will be funded with the revenue from Measure A, a special sales tax voters approved in 2022, officials said.
John Poland, SSVEMS executive director, said his agency, which oversees ambulance services for 10 Northern California counties, has had two long term contracts with AMR in Placer and Shasta counties.
“We are obviously pleased with the service they provide both those two counties,” said Poland, who updated the Board of Supervisors last week on the status of securing two full time Advanced Life Support ambulances to serve Colusa County. “We have had no issues or concerns with the services they provide.”
Enloe EMS, which has long provided local ambulance services, opted out of bidding on the exclusive contract.
“They did not submit a proposal,” Poland said, citing that it was a business decision.
According to Poland, AMR meets or exceeds all the required minimum bidding credentials. The company has been in business since 1992, and serves the cities of Woodland, West Sacramento, Davis, and Winters, among others.
AMR also owns the Reach Air Ambulance helicopter, which is based in the City of Williams, Poland said.
The Colusa County Board of Supervisors approved a request for proposals in September. The county has been collecting Measure A revenue since April.
Poland said AMR’s proposal was well vetted by the review panel, which included the medical director of NorCal EMS Agency, the EMS battalion chief from Sacramento City Fire Department, and the acting executive director from Mountain Counties EMS Agency.
The company scored 446 out of a possible 500 on criteria that included general operations and management.
AMR will operate two ALS ambulances 24 hours per day, seven days per week, in response to 911 calls, at an annual cost of about $1.5 million from Measure A funds, which is the largest tax subsidy paid to a private ambulance company for services in the State of California to make up for operational losses, officials said.
Poland said the company has newer vehicles with electronic gurneys and loading systems, which will be good for patients and personnel, and has access to a bariatric ambulance and multi-patient bus ambulance for multi-casualty events.
AMR’s base rate for transport is $2,950, about $600 less than Enloe’s current charge.
“Not only are you going to have increased services, but the cost is going to be less to the citizens of Colusa County…” Poland said. “Obviously, they are paying increased tax money that the county passed but that’s kind of the trade off.”
Poland said the SSVEMS board is in the process of completing the contract process. Final approval will likely be in March with AMR coming on board by April 1. Enloe will continue to provide services until the transition is made.
Supervisor Daurice Kalfsbeek Smith said the county would have been in dire straits to provide ambulance services had the voters not approved Measure A.
“We wouldn’t be here without them,” Smith said. “We would be in a situation where we would not have coverage for our county, which is so critical to our community and our county. I just can’t thank the voters enough for passing Measure A.”