Seaside Heights May Lead New EMS Squad, Or Privatize, Amidst Tri-Boro Troubles

Ambulances from Tri-Boro First Aid. (Photo: Tri-Boro First Aid Squad/Facebook)

Seaside Heights officials, faced with the prospect of serious financial troubles having befallen the Tri-Boro EMS squad, is soliciting bids for private EMS service for the town while simultaneously investigating whether the town should form a new professional squad.

Borough Administrator Christopher Vaz said like many first aid squads, Tri-Boro has been finding it more difficult to operate under the financial constraints of a state law that limits the amount of funds local governments can donate to local first aid squads, including nonprofits, as well as the “inadequately low Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement schedules.” The state statute caps the maximum amount municipalities can donate at $125,000.

Vaz said the situation has become serious enough where the mayor and borough council has started to look at alternatives to Tri-Boro to ensure the continuity of prompt service.

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“Because Seaside Heights service call volume is approximately 70 percent of Tri-Boro’s overall annual call volume, Seaside Heights has agreed to take the lead in whatever solution is eventually agreed-upon through a shared services agreement with our neighboring communities,” he said. “That could be contracting with a third-party EMS organization through a bid process or even creating a new municipal department of emergency medical services. The ultimate goal, of course, is to ensure continuity of emergency medical services to residents and visitors.”

The resolution adopted by the borough council on Wednesday authorizes receipt of bids for emergency medical services. After bids are received, municipal representatives will be able to compare the cost of a third-party service versus the cost of ramping up a new municipal department of emergency medical services, Vaz said.

The bidding process does not necessarily mean that Tri-Boro is shutting down. The squad will be able to submit a bid and, in doing so, will not be limited by the state law capping costs.

“This statutory cap on municipal contributions is arbitrary and fails to take into account real world costs of operating an emergency medical services organization – labor costs, liability insurance costs, workers compensation costs, building maintenance costs, vehicle acquisition and maintenance costs, equipment, supplies, etc.,” said Vaz, “Compounded by low insurance reimbursements that fail to cover per hour or per call operational costs.”

Tri-Boro utilizes the services of both paid and volunteer EMTs. The sole remaining all-volunteer EMS squad on the island is Lavallette First Aid, which has raised its own concerns over volunteer recruiting in recent years.