The memorandum of understanding between the city of Augusta and Gold Cross EMS technically expired on Dec. 31, 2022, and there is real fear that a new agreement may not happen any time soon.
This situation could mean that Gold Cross EMS may decide to pull out of the Augusta market, according to Vice President Steven Vincent.
Gold Cross EMS recently decided to end its relationship with AIken County, S.C., where the company provided service as a secondary ambulance transport system. An email, obtained via an open records request, confirmed that Gold Cross EMS pulled out of the Aiken market.
“It is nothing against Aiken County. We just cannot afford to provide the service any longer,” Vincent said.
According to Vincent, the situation in Augusta/Richmond County has made it difficult for his company to service nearby smaller communities.
Vincent says that Gold Cross had a 27% rate of people not paying anything for ambulance transportation two years ago, and the rate is more than 50%.
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Meanwhile, the cost of diesel fuel has continued to rise in the same period of time.
The city of Augusta does provide a $650,000 supplement to Gold Cross, but that is no longer covering operating costs, Vincent said, adding that his company is operating at a loss in Richmond County.
“If someone calls 911, we have to, by law, send out our ambulance, and we have always done that, but we are stretched thin. We have to pay for the fuel, and we have to pay for the people who are there to show up on the scene and help in any way they are needed,” Vincent said.
District 4 Commissioner Al Mason has pushed for a contract with Gold Cross since he took office last year and says that he is aware of the real possibility that Gold Cross EMS could pull out of Augusta and he says such a situation could be catastrophic.
“If we do lose Gold Cross, the former commissioners that held this up should be ashamed. They let down their constituents,” Mason said.
Both Mason and Mayor Pro Tem Brandon Garrett say they are committed to working with Gold Cross EMS immediately to resolve the situation.
“We need to make sure we are providing the resources for public safety, especially for EMS services where they are covered for EMS services rendered that aren’t paid for because of lack of reimbursement,” Garrett said.
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However, due to the current economy, it may mean that Augusta has to provide a supplement of $2 million or more for Gold Cross EMS to continue to operate here.
Otherwise, Vincent says that his company has to abide by the same market pressures as any other business.
“We can’t continue to operate at a loss. We just can’t do it,” Vincent said.
Scott Hudson is the senior reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com
