The Marion County Board of Commissioners heard from EMS Director Chuck Kenney about the Interfacility Transfer Policy. “There’s been several different policies over the last couple years. Some conflicting with other agreements,” said Kenney. “We had a transfer policy that was adopted in August of ’22. And then we had the policy that the board adopted in December of ’22 that had some charges associated with it, like fees and everything that Brad [Jantz, county attorney] drafted. And then after that we had the service agreements with the hospitals. And so some of the things that are in those service agreements are in conflict with the standard policy and the most recently adopted transfer policy,” said Marion County Administrator Tina Spencer. Some of the conflicts have revolved around mileage and costs for ambulances. “What I’ve been doing is basically the 60 mile thing, working with both hospitals. I’ve been taking bits and pieces out of the previous policies and agreements and kind of just working as a patient advocate really. So this is tidbits from all the policies and agreements summarized into one form so we have something in reference to go and actually look at and kind of clear the pond a little bit,” said Kenney.
Source: Hillsboro Free Press
