Lions Club Have Guest Speakers

Barbour County Commissioner David Strait and Paramedic Rod Kimble were guest speakers at the Philippi Lions Club meeting on May 7. They spoke to the Club about the ambulance service in the County.

Commissioner Strait explained that the two ambulance services that were in the county were private companies and that they were not owned by the Barbour County Commission. He also explained the complexity of starting a business as a government entity, in that it is very different from a private individual. The Barbour County Commission has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with both Belington EMS and Barbour County EMS to bring both agencies together under a new Barbour County Ambulance Authority. This Ambulance Authority will give the Commission oversight and financial control over ambulance service in the county.

They gave details on the aging equipment, with some ambulances having over 300,000 miles on them. The County has purchased two new ambulances, one used ambulance, and is the process of having some units overhauled.

They explained the process of billing including what is billed versus what Medicare (or other insurance entities) actually approves to pay. For example, the bill may be $1,000 but Medicare only approves $225, and they cannot collect any more than the approved amount.

Both Commissioner Strait and Paramedic Kimble spoke of their vision for the future of ambulance service in Barbour County. Commissioner Strait encourages anyone with questions or concerns to contact him or one of the other commissioners, or to attend a County Commission meeting.