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| Tuesday, Feb 27 2007 12:12 PM
Last Updated: Tuesday, Feb 27 2007 12:12 PM
The base-line cost of an air ambulance ride in Kern County will likely double to around $9,300 during the next three months after Supervisors, Tuesday, removed rate regulations on the two companies which provide the emergency helicopter services.
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One of the two companies, Mercy Air of Fontana, was ignoring the county rate controls, said Ross Elliott, director of the county’s Emergency Medical Services department.
So the county released Hall Ambulance — the other air ambulance company — from rate controls.
Elliott said he expects Hall to increase it’s rates to something close to what Mercy Air is charging.
Kern Medical Center
Supervisors also approved deals with six county doctors which will eliminate a complicated network of pay and billing relationships which have sparked years of debate and controversy.
The doctors of the Kern Women’s Health Group will now collect all their own fees for the services they provide.
Previously those fees had been collected by an independent trust fund, then funneled through Kern Medical Center’s general budget.
Reserve
Supervisors also approved expanded police powers for part time reserve Kern County Sheriff’s deputies.
Specific, fully-trained Sheriff’s deputies will have 24-hour-a-day police powers under the new rule.
Previously they only had police powers while they were on duty.