Sheriff’s office forms agreement with Baxter for advanced life support services

Jasper County Sheriff’s Office will be providing advanced life support (ALS) services to the City of Baxter for the foreseeable future. The board of supervisors voted 3-0 to approved a 28E agreement between the small town and the county, which will allow for consistent paramedic-level services for emergencies.

Lt. Mike Gunsaulus noted an extra paragraph was added to the agreement under the section titled “obligations of parties.” This entry states that in the event Baxter only has a driver available and Jasper County provides the only EMS provider on a transport, then Baxter authorizes the county to bill for services.

If Jasper County receives payment, then the county will reimburse Baxter $150. Gunsaulus told the board of supervisors that Baxter specifically requested this obligation be added to the 28E agreement because there have been a few incidents where Baxter EMS is only showing up with their non-provider driver.

“Then they’re out billing and they can’t do anything with that, so we’ve added that so they’re allowing us to bill for that call,” Gunsaulus said.

Supervisor Brandon Talsma said the agreement essentially reverses the process by making the county the billing agency and reimbursing Baxter, instead of vice versa. Gunsaulus specified it is only when Baxter has the non-provider driver. A handful of times, he said, that driver is the only person showing up to the call.

“And then our paramedics,” Gunsaulus said.

Other obligations include the county being obligated to provide ALS services when available and when required or requested by Baxter. The sheriff’s office shall also allow any Baxter service provide access to patient care reports on calls when paramedic-deputies were involved in assisting the EMS team.