Oklahoma Ambulance Association also known as OKAMA

PROJECT PURPOSE

The Oklahoma Ambulance Association (OKAMA), on behalf of all OSDH-licensed emergency ground ambulance services in Oklahoma, requests $108,485,000. These funds are requested to address urgent staffing needs, enable repair and replacement of critical equipment, purchase medical supplies at rising market prices, and offset increased operating expenses due to transporting infectious or potentially infectious patients. OKAMA will distribute funds for 3 years, FYE ?2023, ?2024, and ?2025, $36,161,667 each year. OKAMA proposes to offer grants to ambulance services on an annual interval, for calendar years 2023 through 2025. OKAMA will require all licensed Oklahoma emergency ambulance services to apply and provide verifiable information and data on which the grant award will be based. OKAMA proposes to use the number of ambulances that OSDH has inspected and Permitted for each EMS as a basis to differentiate the size of the qualified ambulance service. This is the same method proposed by national ambulance associations and the same method used when OKAMA distributed grants of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Funds in 2020. *Note: OKAMA requested $27,813,303 from CARES Funds. We were grateful for the $5 million we received, but that was only 18% of our need.

EVIDENCE

Oklahoma ground ambulance services provide essential services to Oklahoma citizens, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We respond regardless of knowing if a patient or insurance will pay for the service we provide. This is required by statute and rule, but more importantly, it is our solemn duty as frontline emergency medical practitioners. It costs nearly $450,000 per year to operate a single advanced life support ambulance. The increasing costs of the equipment we utilize, new decontamination requirements, higher medical supply costs, uncompensated readiness costs, and the expenses of caring for uninsured and underinsured individuals all factor in.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

Oklahoma EMS provides essential service in all 77 counties to everyone who calls for 9-1-1, regardless of their ability to pay. Oklahoma EMS serves all areas of the state including the most vulnerable populations. Every EMS is enrolled as a Medicaid Provider. Approximately 10% to 50% of all EMS activity serves Medicaid beneficiaries and our population that is uninsured. EMS provides essential care and transportation to all ages, but a large portion of our patients are elder Oklahomans. Mental health patients are a common part of our patient population, as well. Whether the primary cause for an emergency call or a contributing factor, patients with mental health needs benefit from having EMS for their care and transportation. Patients with mental health needs, elder patients over 65 and patients with little or no healthcare are some of the most vulnerable and adversely effected by the virus and the pandemic. State statistics have shown these populations are the most susceptible to

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

OKAMA will divide the amount awarded over three (3) years, 2023 through 2025. Awards will be distributed during the first quarter of each award year. Recipients will be required to report their progress at least semi-annually to qualify for the next award. Reportable data will include number of personnel hired with award, Essential Personnel awards , essential equipment purchases, implementation of new decontamination processes since 2020, and any other service-related improvements not affordable without the grants. Performance data should include number of citizens served (population of primary service area), and number of EMS responses*, transports*, and patient contacts without transport*.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

One-time project will not need continued funding