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ChatGPTClaudePerplexityStoryline · 7 events · Jan 5, 2010 – Oct 8, 2024
Amarillo's ambulance permit: American Medical Response, 2010 to the present
Quick answers
- What is the latest on Amarillo's ambulance permit: American Medical Response, 2010 to the present?
- Oct 8, 2024: Permit amended to add 911 Nurse Navigation. On the October 8, 2024 consent agenda (approved 4:0) the council amended the 2022 permit so that AMR could integrate a Nurse Navigation System into the 911 medical system: after triage by an AECC call taker, low-acuity callers are connected to a nurse provided by AMR who directs them to other care. Read the event
- How far back does this record of Amarillo's ambulance permit: American Medical Response, 2010 to the present go?
- To Jan 5, 2010: Council authorizes an ambulance service permit to American Medical Response. The storyline has 7 dated events in all. Read the event
Ambulance transport in Amarillo is provided by American Medical Response, Inc., doing business as Amarillo Medical Services, under an exclusive City permit first authorized on January 5, 2010. The council extended the permit for two years in January 2017 after a public review, then in August 2019 approved a second and final two-year extension to January 1, 2022 and directed the City Manager to issue a request for proposals by May 1, 2021. In December 2021 the council extended the permit 60 days while the City and AMR negotiated a new permit, and on February 8, 2022 it approved an eight-year exclusive permit with response-time standards, liquidated damages and annual payments to the City for dispatch at the Amarillo Emergency Communications Center. In October 2024 the permit was amended to add a 911 Nurse Navigation program.
A storyline groups dated events in order. It is a chronology, not an argument; it does not say why anything happened. All storylines
· Origin
Council authorizes an ambulance service permit to American Medical Response
Resolution No. 1-5-10-1 (with Addendum), enacted January 5, 2010 under Article II of Chapter 16-4 of the Amarillo Municipal Code, authorized a permit to American Medical Response, Inc. (AMR) to operate an ambulance service within the city limits. The resolution itself was not located; its number and date are recited in the council's 2019 and 2021 resolutions on the permit.[1][2]
American Medical Response, Inc. (dba Amarillo Medical Services)
- ✓ Verified
The 2019 and 2021 permit resolutions recite that "pursuant to Article II, Chapter 16-4, of the Amarillo Municipal Code of Ordinances and that certain Resolution No. 1-5-10-1 (with Addendum) enacted on January 5, 2010, the City Council authorized a Permit to American Medical Response, Inc." to operate an ambulance service within the city limits. [1][2]
· Precursor
Council reviews the ambulance permit as AMR asks for a two-year extension
ABC 7 Amarillo reported that the Fire Chief presented to the council on Tuesday, January 17, 2017, as the ambulance permit neared the end of its term and AMR asked for a two-year extension. The council did not grant the extension that day; councilmembers discussed evaluating response times and receiving a quarterly report.[3]
Mark NairAmerican Medical Response, Inc. (dba Amarillo Medical Services)
- ✓ Verified
ABC 7 Amarillo reported that AMR had provided ambulance service in Amarillo for more than seven years, that the contract was ending at the end of the year, and that AMR asked the council for a two-year extension, which the council had not yet granted. [3]
- ✓ Verified
The Fire Chief told the council that firefighters provide initial patient care and AMR crews transport patients to the nearest hospital, ABC 7 reported. [3]
- ✓ Verified
Mark Nair, Amarillo City Councilmember: Councilmember Mark Nair said, "What we did discuss was how we can evaluate response times and how we can get a quarterly report" on the service, and described AMR as operating "as a city service." [3]
· Related development
Council extends the AMR ambulance permit two years and approves a transport-rate increase
On the January 31, 2017 consent agenda the council approved, 5:0, a two-year extension of the ambulance permit beginning January 1, 2018 (item 10C) and an "extraordinary" increase in AMR's transport rates, listed on the agenda as 2.935%, to cover AMR's portion of increased operating costs at the Amarillo Emergency Communications Center (item 10D). Other rates were to rise with the consumer price index as provided in the permit.[4][5]
American Medical Response, Inc. (dba Amarillo Medical Services)
- ✓ Verified
The council approved consent items 10B, 10C and 10D 5:0 on January 31, 2017; item 10C extended the ambulance permit for two years beginning January 1, 2018. [4]
- ✓ Verified
Item 10D approved a new rate schedule for the ambulance permit; the extraordinary increase applied only to transport rates and was "intended to cover AMR's portion of increased operating costs at the Amarillo Emergency Communications Center." The agenda listed the increase as 2.935%. [5][4]
- Rate increase
- 2.935%
· Starting point
Council approves the second and final permit extension and sets an RFP deadline
Resolution No. 08-06-19-1, passed 5:0, extended the 2010 permit for a second and final two-year period from January 1, 2020 to January 1, 2022, ratified the permit's earlier amendments, and directed the City Manager to prepare and issue a public request for proposals for ambulance service no later than May 1, 2021. The resolution said the current provider could submit a proposal through that process.[6][1]
Ginger NelsonAmerican Medical Response, Inc. (dba Amarillo Medical Services)
- ✓ Verified
The resolution directed the City Manager "no later than May 1, 2021 to have prepared and issued a public request for proposals for Ambulance Service in the City," and said the current provider could submit a proposal "at that time through the RFP process, and not before." [1]
- ✓ Verified
The council passed Resolution No. 08-06-19-1 by a 5:0 vote on August 6, 2019.[6]
· Related development
Council extends the expiring permit 60 days to finish negotiating a new one
Resolution No. 12-14-21-2, approved 4-0 on the consent agenda, extended the AMR permit, then set to expire January 1, 2022, by 60 days to March 2, 2022. The resolution said the City and AMR were negotiating a new permit and the extension was "to finalize and complete the negotiation."[7][2]
Ginger NelsonAmerican Medical Response, Inc. (dba Amarillo Medical Services)
- ✓ Verified
The December 2021 resolution says the City and AMR were "currently negotiating a new permit." The council records reviewed for this storyline do not show whether the request for proposals called for in 2019 was issued, and the City did not publicly state, in those records, why a new permit was negotiated with the existing provider. [2][8]
- ✓ Verified
The consent agenda including item CC passed 4-0, with one councilmember absent.[7]
· Peak
Council approves an eight-year exclusive ambulance permit for Amarillo Medical Services
Resolution No. 02-08-22-3, passed 5-0, granted American Medical Response, Inc., doing business as Amarillo Medical Services, an exclusive ambulance permit for eight years, renewable for up to two two-year terms. It set ambulance response-time standards by zone and priority (8:59 for Priority 1), monthly compliance targets of 90% system-wide and 85% per zone, liquidated damages capped at $60,000 a month, and annual payments to the City for AECC dispatch and an AFD permit administrator.[9][8][10]
Ginger NelsonAmerican Medical Response, Inc. (dba Amarillo Medical Services)
- ✓ Verified
The permit's term is "an eight (8) year period beginning on the Commencement Date" and may be renewed by mutual consent "for not more than two (2) extensions of two (2) years each." The resolution says the permit is "renewed and effective on February 8, 2022." [8]
- ✓ Verified
The permit grants the agency "the exclusive right as the sole provider" of emergency ground ambulance service, non-emergency and interfacility ambulance service, and ambulance standby service within the city limits, subject to listed exceptions. [8]
- ✓ Verified
Ambulance arrival times are 8:59 for Priority 1, 11:59 for Priority 2 and 14:59 for Priority 3 in each of four zones (Airport District 11:59 and 12:59 for Priorities 1 and 2), measured from dispatch in the City's CAD to arrival of a MICU-capable unit and paramedic; the monthly standard is 90% system-wide and 85% for each zone and priority. [8]
- ✓ Verified
Missed response-time standards carry liquidated damages (for Priority 1, from $3,000 to $30,000 a month depending on compliance and consecutive months), capped at $60,000 in any month, paid into the City's General Fund. [8]
- Max monthly liquidated damages
- $60,000
- ✓ Verified
The agenda item's funding summary lists $870,000 a year from AMR to the City: $775,000 for dispatcher staff at the AECC, $85,000 for an AFD Permit Administrator, $5,000 for training props and the mobile classroom, and up to $5,000 for narcotics used by AFD. After the first year the AECC amount is to be negotiated, not to exceed actual cost, or adjusted by CPI. [8]
- Annual payment
- $870,000
- Aecc dispatch
- $775,000
- Permit administrator
- $85,000
- Training
- $5,000
- Narcotics
- $5,000
- ✓ Verified
The council passed Resolution No. 02-08-22-3 by a 5-0 vote on February 8, 2022.[9]
- ✓ Verified
Separately, the City's check registers show 182 payments from the City to AMERICAN MEDICAL RESPONSE totaling $205,491.63 between July 11, 2022 and July 30, 2026. The registers do not say what the payments were for. [14]
- Total
- $205,492
