DOVER-FOXCROFT — Piscataquis County is looking to join the towns of Brownville and Milo in an agreement with the Howland-based Central Maine Highlands Fire District #1 to ensure ambulance service is available in the eastern Unorganized Territories.
Central Maine Highlands Fire District #1, which offers 24/7 service, would serve as a backup if Three Rivers Ambulance of Milo and Northern Light Medical Transport and Emergency Care of Dover-Foxcroft were both unable to respond to a call in the UTs. A contract may be presented at a future Piscataquis County Commissioners meeting for approval.
County Manager Michael Williams said he has been speaking with Milo Fire Chief Mike Harris and Brownville Fire Chief Shawn Mitchell.
“They are having the same problem getting the ambulance coverage, so they got into a temporary agreement with the ambulance service out of Howland as a backup,” Williams said during a commissioners meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 4.
Ambulance coverage for rural Maine communities has been an ongoing problem. Most recently, four unorganized territories in Penobscot County learned in December that they are at risk of losing ambulance coverage from the East Millinocket Fire Department.
Last year, Three Rivers Ambulance responded to 34 calls in the nearby Piscataquis County UTs, Williams said.
“This is where the problem is because Three Rivers sometimes goes 24, 48, 72 hours without any coverage and when Milo, Sebec, and Brownville need ambulance transportation they are trying to find it,” he said.
Under an agreement with the county, Williams said that if Central Maine Highlands Fire District #1 was called in for transport then the organization would bill the patient’s insurance. Should there be a portion of the bill not covered, then the county would reimburse the remainder or unrecoverable expense to the ambulance service.
“There won’t be any cost unless they can’t get reimbursed, they are not looking to make money,” Williams said. “All they are looking to do is cover expenses for coming over here.”
He said Central Maine Highlands Fire District #1 would be called in by Brownville and Milo emergency services personnel when an ambulance is needed.
“It is going to be some extra money, I have some right now in the UT budget because I have a fire/ambulance line in the budget,” Williams said, with an amount to be determined. He said he does not want the county to end up in a situation where no ambulance is available in an emergency.
Williams said he will attend a meeting with Brownville and Milo officials and Three Rivers Ambulance next week.
“That is an issue around the entire state, it’s not just local to us, it’s everybody going through this,” he said about trying to ensure ambulance coverage is in place.
