ELYSBURG - The Elysburg Fire Department will not stop responding to fire and rescue calls, but the paid ambulance service it runs could close by the end of the year if its financial picture doesn't improve, officials said at a meeting Thursday.
The department's president clarified recent statements made about its financial problems caused by Elysburg's 24-hour ambulance service losing more than $13,000 each year.
"We can't keep supporting both departments," Elysburg Fire Department President Harvey Boyer said. "We want to keep the ambulance service, but won't break the fire department's bank to do so."
Elysburg Ambulance Service provides 24-hour coverage with a paid staff and an emergency management technician (EMT) and paramedic on every shift, giving state-of-the-art emergency health care for Ralpho and surrounding townships and Knoebels Amusement Resort, which is visited by more than a million people each year.
"We have one of the best medical staffs around with our ambulance program, and stand beside them all the way," Boyer said.
The problem stems from a loss of revenue over the last 18 months. The fire department has picked up the slack, but it has created a hardship for the volunteer-based organization, Boyer said.
"With the fire department continually absorbing costs of $13,000 to $19,000 annually, it has been a strain. We may have to cut full-time ambulance service by the end of the year," he said.
If the ambulance service closes, the president said potential medical tragedies could happen.
"If we shut it down, the next closest ambulance base is 10 to 18 minutes away," Boyer said. "Those are precious minutes that could mean life or death."
Memberships, payments lacking
In a prepared statement, department members reiterated this situation will not affect their efforts to respond to all fire and rescue calls.
When asked where money is being lost, Boyer said lack of memberships and payments for services rendered are two culprits.
"We've found that 50 percent of the calls that we go out on, the patient doesn't pay their bill," Boyer said.
A call that requires advance life support (ALS) services costs approximately $1,000. A basic ambulance call costs between $300 to $500, depending on what treatments are needed.
The department is also investigating instances of, what they consider to be, insurance fraud.
"There are a number of HMO and health insurance carriers that cut checks to the patients to pay their ambulance bill, and the patients cash the check and keep the money," Boyer said. "The bigger companies - Geisinger, Medicare and Medicaid - pay us directly."
Residents can offset the out-of-pocket costs by purchasing a yearly membership - $35 for individuals, $50 for families.
"For emergency medical and certain rescue services, we do bill any insurance or benefit program you may have. However, if you have a membership with our department, any cost not covered or paid by your insurance company will be absorbed by the Elysburg Fire Department," according to the ambulance department's brochure.
Membership numbers are dwindling as well, Boyer said.
"Last drive, only 20 percent of the residents purchased a membership. Many think they'll never call 911, so they don't see the need," he said.
According to the department, an increase of revenue between $20,000 and $40,000 is needed this fiscal year to continue the ambulance service.
Membership and donation forms can be found on the department's website, www.elysburgfire.com, or by calling the department at 672-2920.