Newtown to Enter Into Tentative Agreement With Riddle for Ambulance Services

NEWTOWN SQUARE–The Board of Supervisors announced an update on the status of the township's ambulance services contract at a supervisors meeting on Feb. 13.

According to Supervisors Chairman Joe Catania, Riddle Hospital–the township's current ambulance services provider–has agreed to reduce their rates in the proposed three-year contract with the township, if the township were to renew their contract with them. Supervisors Vice Chairman Dr. Ross Lambert stated Riddle has already reduced their rates twice with the contract.

Catania said the township currently pays Riddle approximately $59,000 per month for their services, in which the rate would be reduced to approximately $53,000-$54,000 per month.

"We would still do the same billings. We're collecting revenue of roughly about $400,000 a year," explained Catania.

According to Township Manager Mike Trio, there were approximately six

"Our Newtown Township fire company gave us a proposal but it was the net number," said Catania. "All the collections would be done through them and we would be paying them just a hair under $20,000 a month, which financially was about $13,000 [below the Riddle contract offer] was our estimate."

But as part of Riddle's contract, Catania explained that Riddle would station an ambulance unit at the township–which is what they currently do–and another at the firehouse. Catania confirmed the second unit would be guaranteed to stay in the township for the duration of the contract.

"Of course, that one would be dispatched to wherever else they cover but at least it would be stationed here," shared Catania. "And then we have our Newtown Township ambulance as well for the first calls."

According to Catania, the fire company's back-up plan would be to use Radnor or Berwyn's secondary ambulance units but the issue is that many of those townships see a number of calls more than Newtown.

"The problem with those units–from what I understand–if our unit went out, they would move their unit to the border of Newtown Township and Radnor," said Catania. "There is an issue though that Berwyn has staffing in their second unit and the other issue with Radnor is that they have a lot, a lot of calls each year. So, each unit is being used a lot."

Some of the challenges the supervisors were met with in awarding the ambulance contract to a provider, involved the possible services that could be provided by Riddle with an extra unit in the township and the possible cost savings that the Newtown Square Fire Co. could provide.

But the general consensus of the board appeared to be that the level of service that was provided by Riddle should not be compromised solely on cost savings.

"It seemed to be the consensus from the comments I heard back there that you don't want to sacrifice that type of coverage that we could have with Riddle by having that second unit there for the reduced cost," said Catania.

Trio said that Riddle would be able to change the contract to state that the township would be enter into the new contract almost immediately after 180 days of the agreement.

"We're under contract with Riddle through Oct. 1, 2012. The change would begin ASAP in the contract. So we would make those $6,500/$6,000 a month savings right away this year, assuming everything else is equal," said Catania.

Supervisor Ed Partridge made a motion to authorize Trio to enter into a preliminary tentative agreement with Riddle, subject to the solicitor's approval, at the reduced rates and level of services noted which will be ratified by the board at the next meeting. The motion was seconded by Supervisor John Nawn. The motion was approved 4-0 with Lambert abstaining due to his membership with the fire company.