Region 1

Mark Harrison

Present

Region 2

Nell Thomas

Present

Region 3

Jim Inman

Present

Region 4

Mike Swift

Absent

Region 5

Barry Brown

Present

Region 6

Sherman Hockenbury

Present

Region 7

Mark Bailey

Absent

Region 8

Steve Becraft

Absent

Region 9

Terry Fraley

Absent

Region 10

Michael Mason

Present

Region 11

Joe Bradshaw

Present

Region 12

Terry Akin

Present

Region 13

Duane Lee

Present

Region 14

Wendell Hatfield

Present

Region 15

Rodney McKibben

Absent

Region 16

Bob Gainer

Absent

At Large

Joe Prewitt
David Webb
Charles O’Neal
Vacant
Jamey Locke

Absent
Present
Absent  

Absent

Others Attending

About twelve others attended.  A sign-in sheet is on file.

ITEM

DISCUSSION

ACTION

Call to Order

President Joe Bradshaw called the meeting to order.

Jim Inman offered the invocation.

None needed

Minutes Approval

Motion by Wendell Hatfield and second by David Webb to accept the minutes of the previous meeting.

Motion passed

Treasurer's Report

Jamey Locke was not able to attend.  Doy White distributed the financial sheet.  Total cash balance of all accounts is $57,126.74.  Recent expenditures are; General Fund $5,111.58 and Conference Fund $7,579.48.  Motion to accept the report by Sherman Hockenbury and second by David Webb.

It was noted that to date, 31 ambulance providers have responded to the membership assessment request.

Motion passed

Conference Committee Report

Joe Bradshaw reported.

• The EMS Olympics are underway at the regional levels but more participation is needed.
• The KAPA Golf Scramble will be on Monday June 26^th at 1:00 pm at the Summit Country Club.  The elected officials session is being planned and may be scheduled for a half day on Tuesday.
• The guest speaker at this year’s banquet will be Richard (Pitch) Picciotto, author of the best-selling book “Last Man Down”.  Pitch was the highest-ranking fire officer to survive the collapse of the North Tower on Sept. 11, 2001.
• National Registry Paramedic board exams will be held during the conference.

Legislative Committee Report

Joe Bradshaw reported.  Last March Joe Bradshaw, Mark Harrison, and Sherman Hockenbury represented KAPA in meetings in Washington, DC.  Meetings were scheduled with all of our legislators and with the National Ambulance Coalition (NAC) representatives.  It is felt by the committee that these meetings have been very beneficial and that we are beginning to see positive results.

Medicaid Report

Sherman Hockenbury reported.  Presently, Kentucky Medicaid is spending 12million dollars annually on EMS.  About one third of this is going to air ambulance providers.  Rep. Nunn filed a bill during the last session, which called for Medicaid rates to be increased to equal rates under the Medicare Fee Schedule.  Many KAPA supporters co-sponsored the bill.  Although the bill did not pass, it provided the much-needed opportunity to discuss the Medicaid reimbursement issues in a public forum.  Recently, Medicaid announced that EMS would receive a 14% increase (just over $2 million annually) effective July 1, 2005. 

A bill has been recently introduced in Congress, which if passed, would increase Medicare reimbursement to EMS.  Kentucky’s share would be $10 million annually.

NAC

17 State Coalition

KAPA has received a bill for NAC membership for 2005.  The amount is the same as last year, approximately $4,100.00.  A motion was made by Duane Lee and second by Nell Thomas to renew our membership.

Motion passed.

KY Department of Homeland Security

Joe reported that Charles O’Neal contacted him recently.  The DHS had appropriated $100,000 for mutual aid planning and revisions but the funds had not been utilized.  DHS is interested in KAPA helping to coordinate the expenditure of these funds to assist EMS providers.  Charlie has agreed to be the lead person for KAPA to work on this.  Motion to work with DHS on this project by Wendell Hatfield and second by Michael Mason.

Motion passed

Board Vacancy

The At-Large position created by the resignation of John Blumenstock need to be filled.  The existing term will expire December 31, 2005.  The board received nominations for Tim Smith, James Hacker, and Mike Pointer.  Motion to open nominations from the floor by Sherman Hockenbury and second by Terry Akins.  Floor nominations included Tim Mahone, Dan Durham, and Jim Duke.  Motion to cease nominations by Mark Harrison and second by Wendell Hatfield.   Elected was Jim Duke.  A motion was made to accept Jim Duke to the board by Duane Lee and second by Barry Brown.

Motion passed

Motion passed

Motion passed

Next Meeting

September 27^th at 8:00 pm in Owensboro, KY.

None needed

Adjournment

Motion to adjourn at 3:30 pm CST by Terry Akin and second by David Webb.

Motion passed