By Andrew Harp
The Evening News and the Tribune
CLARK COUNTY, Ind. — The Clark County Commissioners approved an amendment to the EMS services agreement with Heartland Ambulance, extending it for the next four years.
In 2024, the county began contracting with Heartland, which is based in Muncie, after they ended their contract at the time with New Chapel EMS, which officials said was not meeting the standards of the contract.
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The county’s original agreement with Heartland expires by the end of 2027. The amendment, which was presented for approval at the commissioners meeting on Thursday, now extends the agreement until the end of 2030.
The amendment locks in the rate that the county is currently pay for services, instead of the 3% increase per year that was in the original agreement.
“This is kind of a win-win for the county,” said Clark County Attorney R. Scott Lewis .
The amendment also adds two more basic life support ambulances and implements a pre-hospital blood program. The ambulance service will also provide more support at county events like Thunder Over Louisville.
“This is actually enhancing services,” Lewis said.
Heartland Director of Operations Josh Keywood said in a text message on Friday that these new improvements do not add any additional costs to taxpayers.
“Heartland looks forward to continuing our partnership with Clark County,” he said.
Lewis said that the county’s EMS subcommittee unanimously agreed to recommend that the commissioners approve this amendment.
Commissioners President Bryan Glover said that this has been under discussion for months. He said this is a good amendment to an already good contract.
“I’ve always been in favor of this,” he said.
Glover said that the committee also pushed for more data and metrics from Heartland, which will be providing it, in order to make sure the constituents are getting what they paid for.
The commissioners will continue to pay Heartland in monthly installments at a total of $3,114,000 per year.
Previously, the commissioners approved a study to be conducted in order to determine what the long-term solution for EMS in the county ought to be.
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