Published Dec. 12 in the Kentucky Standard

Nelson County to purchase ambulance service

By LISA TOLLIVER
The Kentucky Standard

BARDSTOWN — Nelson County is going into the ambulance service business.

Dean Watts, Nelson County Judge Executive, announced Tuesday the county’s intentions to purchase the Nelson County EMS Inc. business from Joe and Eva Prewitt.

The announcement was made after a closed session discussion with Fiscal Court members and the Prewitts.

Although the exact details of the purchase has not been announced, including the purchase price, Watts said the court was “close enough in the negotiations with the Prewitts to make this announcement of our intent.” 

Watts said the business was appraised for $1.2 million. However, the county’s purchase price is less than the appraised amount.

Currently the Nelson County EMS is a privately-owned company. The Prewitts have owned and operated the business for 18 years. In order for the Prewitts to provide ambulance service to areas such as New Haven and Bloomfield, the county has subsidized the company with annual payments. In 1995, the county reduced the subsidized amount because “the business climate was good and Medicare reimbursements were adequate,” Watts stated. 

The annual subsidy currently is $80,000 in addition to the use of three ambulances and radio equipment owned by the county.

However, increased need for the service and the cuts in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements have created concern for the services.

“Those cuts have impacted the entire medical industry,” he said.

In examining the county’s possibility of taking over the ambulance service, Watts said the county has made an examination of the business and had a professional firm evaluate it.

The county also discussed the situation with the mayors of the county’s four incorporated cities — Bardstown, Bloomfield, Fairfield and New Haven.

Watts said he and all the mayors “agree that local control of the ambulance service would be best.”

Watts said other commercial ambulance services are interested in the business, “but Nelson Fiscal Court, all mayors and the Prewitts all believe the direction we are taking is best for Nelson County.”

When the county purchases the business when the Prewitts sell in the near future, Watts said the Prewitts will become employees of the county.

“To ensure that the transition is done in a professional and safe manner, it will be important to maintain all personnel including Joey and Eva Prewitt as management for a period of years,” Watts said.

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