By Tony Burchyns
Vallejo Times Herald
SOLANO COUNTY, Calif. — A Solano County health agency has issued a 30-day suspension to an ambulance company for providing medical services it was not authorized to provide.
American Medical Response, meanwhile, is appealing the suspension, arguing the county failed to follow its own enforcement procedures by allowing adequate time to address the concerns.
The suspension has been put on hold, pending a public hearing next month. It was to take effect next Monday.
The dispute stems from the county’s contract with Medic Ambulance, one of AMR’s competitors. Under that agreement, Medic Ambulance has the exclusive right to respond to 911 requests and all paramedic calls, whether emergency or not, within Solano County.
AMR is limited under its operating agreement to mainly prearranged basic life support or critical care transportation between medical facilities.
But Medic Ambulance President Rudy Manfredi says AMR, a Concord-based company, has repeatedly violated the agreements by providing service to patients requiring paramedic care.
Manfredi said Medic Ambulance pays a franchise fee of about $500,000 a year to be the exclusive provider of that service.
Leslie Mueller, AMR’s general manager for Solano and Contra Costa counties, has denied the allegations. Mueller added, “No patient was ever at risk” due to AMR service.
Mueller also criticized the Solano Emergency Medical Services Cooperative for issuing a suspension without allowing AMR time to respond to the allegations.
“This is an administrative process that is under review,” Mueller said.
Solano County EMS Administrator Ted Selby said as of March 15, AMR had received seven warning letters and four fines regarding various alleged violations.
Mueller said some warnings and fines were never received. She added that AMR paid one fine, but declined to describe the infraction or disclose the amount of the fine.
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