City of Wagoner considering changing its ambulance service

Nearly two dozen Oklahoma towns have lost their ambulance service in recent years. <br><br>Medicare and Insurance cutbacks are getting the blame. Residents in Wagoner County hope that doesn't happen

Monday, May 3rd 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Nearly two dozen Oklahoma towns have lost their ambulance service in recent years.

Medicare and Insurance cutbacks are getting the blame. Residents in Wagoner County hope that doesn't happen to them.

Emergency Medical Service serves nearly 12,000 city and rural residents. About 4,300 people in the town of Wagoner pay $10 extra on their water bill for ambulance service. But the others in the county don't pay the fee, because they get rural water bills.

Now the city is considering lowering the water fee to bring in a private ambulance service, which many residents say they don't want.

Wagoner Mayor Josh Hughes: "Sure we could bring in an outside source in- but that's puts us in their discretion-what they want to charge residents and the quality of care is the main issue."

Wagoner paramedic Stacey Hopkins: "If we can take it down to $9 and break even and keep equipment and education levels up and still provide the same service that's what we want to do."