The future of Rogers County's Med Tech Ambulance Service

A Claremore city council meeting this evening will decide if a Rogers County ambulance service can keep answering emergency calls. <br/><br/><b><a class="headlinelink" href="http://www.kotv.com/main/home/searchKOTV.asp?mainSearch=Med

Tuesday, July 5th 2005, 6:30 am

By: News On 6

A Claremore city council meeting this evening will decide if a Rogers County ambulance service can keep answering emergency calls.

Med Tech Ambulance Service says a lack of money already reduced its fleet in Claremore. Now, they're asking for the city's help to keep working. 6 in the Morning reporter Omar Villafranca says Med Tech reps say skyrocketing insurance premiums and a reduction in Medicare reimbursements are hitting their bottom line hard. Unless the city can help them every month, Med Tech says they'll be forced to stop service in the area at midnight on July 31st.

Med Tech currently runs five ambulances in Rogers County. The ambulance service is asking for a $40,000 monthly subsidy to help keep some of its units up and running. The subsidy would cover two fully equipped ambulances with EMT's and one back up ambulance for Rogers County.

Med Tech has already stopped one life support unit to cut costs.

If Med Tech is forced to leave, Rogers County officials say they do have a back up plan. They say Oologah-Talala Emergency Medical Service will take responsibility for the area that Med-Tech covers, but they'd receive help from several surrounding areas as well.

The Claremore city council will hear the issue tonight at 6:30.