KBEMS awards Senate Bill 66 grants

By JOHN HULTGREN
Kentucky EMS Connection

FRANKFORT — The checks aren't in the mail yet, but it shouldn't be too much longer.

The Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services awarded Senate Bill 66 grants this afternoon at a special board meeting called specifically for the purpose of approving the payment method and distribution of the funds.

"This is critical for the service providers. We need to get this out today," said Mark Bailey, chairman of the board.

The board awarded a total of $1,314,013.18. Senate Bill 66 provided a total of $1,613,144,59 in funds. The unawarded amount was retained for a required emergency fund.

Since more money was requested than available the board approved a distribution formula based on county population, with the smallest counties getting a larger percentage of their allowable requests than larger counties.

The approved formula is:

• Counties with less than 10,000 residents: 100 per cent of the allowable request
• Counties with less than 15,000 residents: 92 per cent of the allowable request
• Counties with less than 20,000 residents: 85 per cent of the allowable request
• Counties with less than 30,000 residents: 80 per cent of the allowable request
• Counties with less than 40,000 residents: 75 per cent of the allowable request
• Counties with less than 60,000 residents: 70 per cent of the allowable request
• Counties with less than 80,000 residents: 65 per cent of the allowable request
• Counties with less more than 80,000 residents: 60 per cent of the allowable request

"That's the best way they thought to move the money this year," Bailey said.

All board members present voted to approve the allocation and distribution of funds except for Dr. Eric Bentley, who refrained from voting.

But there is still some more paperwork to be completed before the checks are mailed.

According to KBEMS executive director Brian Bishop, each service's fiscal agent will receive a contract from the Finance Administration Cabinet that will be mailed immediately. The Cabinet will telephone each fiscal agent in a few days to ensure that the contracts arrived. These contracts need to be signed and returned as soon as possible. Once the contracts are received it will be approved and the checks will be mailed to the service.

The board also approved a $15,000 award to Bullitt County from their emergency fund.

Bullitt County EMS lost an ambulance in an accident of May 9. The Bullitt County Judge Executive declared a state of emergency because the ambulance is needed due to run volume and coverage, and requested funding for replacement from KBEMS.

Bullitt County EMS responds to more than 4,000 ambulance runs each year.

Bailey explained that because this money "comes out of the emergency side of Senate Bill 66 money" the allocation formula does not apply.

All board members present voted to approve the request.

The board also approved hiring Paul Kearney, M.D., as the new state medical advisor. Dr. Karney is affiliated with the University of Kentucky Hospital. He will be paid $100.00 per hour for his services.

In other business:

• The board introduced Jane F. Wickowski, M.D., who was recently appointed to the board by Governor Patton to replace Dr. Irwin Smith. Dr. Wickowski is from Morehead.
• The board discussed compensation for the EMS for Children Project Manager. The board has received four applications for the position and will make a recommendation to fill the position at the June meeting. The position is funded by a $300,000 federal grant that provides salaries, equipment and travel for pre-hospital pediatric education over a three year period ($100,000 each year). $49,848 per year has been budgeted for the project manager position, and $11,000 per year has been budgeted for a part-time assistant. The project manager will not be a state employee but will put under a contract to the board, so the compensation amount must also include benefits. The board decided to coordinate an offering salary with the Search Committee since the project's budget has already been approved by the board.
• The board approved $149,000 in expenditures for a computer system (including $20,000 for a server that will be set up and maintained by the state), copier, fax, phone system, and office furniture. All equipment prices were obtained under state contract. KBEMS has been notified by the state that, due to a budgetary overrun, the state will be reclaiming all money that has not been spent and invoiced by June 30.
• The board voted to approve the following recommendations of the QA and Ethics Committee:
  • Case #004: Revocation of paramedic license #1714 and EMT certification #19866.
  • Case #006: Revocation of EMT-Instructor certification #240-I, revocation EMT-Instructor Trainer certification #19, and imposing a six-month probation on EMT certification #11125.
  • Case #017: Probate paramedic license #1336-P and EMT certification #9720 for three months with the requirement of 12 hours of continuing education on patient assessment and documentation (in addition to required continuing education).

The meeting, which was originally scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. was delayed for 47 minutes due to lack of a quorum.

Board members Dr. Julia Martin, Judge Anthony Stratton, and Connie Smith were absent.

The next board meeting is scheduled for June 7 at 1:00 p.m. EDT in Room 111 of the Capitol Annex.

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