by LAREIGN WARD, Press Argus-Courier Staff Thursday, October 8, 2009 10:10 AM CDT
After a week of deliberations, County Judge John Hall has decided to award the county's next ambulance contract to Southwest EMS of Mena, saying Southwest better ensures that the county can maintain a good relationship with Summit Medical Center and that CareOne EMS has failed to live up to the contract it signed three years ago.
In addition, documents from the Crawford County Circuit Clerk's office show CareOne owner Wes McCabe has failed to pay more than $300,000 in taxes to the state and federal government.
In a memo explaining his decision, Hall said CareOne has failed to account for the services performed.
"CareOne complied with all the contract agreement at the beginning," Hall wrote. "After that, the county received no documentation of employees, certification of employees, workman's compensation insurance, or time runs on a monthly basis. In other words, CareOne, after initial implementation of the contract, never complied with any part of the existing contract."
Hall also cited a recently tightened state law that prohibits companies who do not have a contract with the city from delivering patients to a hospital inside that city. Southwest's contract with the City of Van Buren prevents patients picked up by CareOne inside the city limits from being transported to Summit Medical Center. Southwest also has a service contract with the City of Alma.
Hall said in July, Ann Barnhart Sr., the vice president of operations for the company that manages Summit Medical Center, "met with me to bring to my attention the fact that the Summit Hospital pays the county $775,000 a year lease," Hall wrote. "In return, Summit expected certain things from our county ambulance providers. This would be one of the determining factors of whether Summit continues to lease our hospital and continue operations here."
But that law does not apply to Southwest since they hold the city contract.
"By being all under one ambulance service, that will rectify that situation," Hall said in an interview in his office Monday. He also said the county will sign a two-year contract with Southwest to ensure it comes up for renewal at the same time as the city contract. The county contract with Southwest will begin Jan. 1, 2010, the day after CareOne's contract expires.
The county judge said Summit was not willing to keep losing patients to Fort Smith hospitals.
"It was one of the major situations," he said. "I felt like the economic viability of our hospital is very important. … This is a real issue with the hospital owners."
McCabe and Southwest co-owner Robby Hines each gave presentations to the quorum court last week during a specially called health and welfare committee meeting. Hines' presentation included more facts and figures, while McCabe said he and wife Crystal had devoted most of their lives to serving Crawford County, often at the expense of family.
While making it clear that he would have the final say, Hall welcomed input from quorum court members. JP Penny Lane protested Hall making a unilateral decision and said she saw no problems with keeping CareOne. In a vote called by Lane, JPs Tom Fite and Sharon Partain also voted to support CareOne, while other quorum court members present abstained.
JP Mary Blount later sent a letter to Hall indicating support for CareOne, while JP Tim Hodges wrote a letter in favor of Southwest. Hall said all the other JPs except Kevin Holmes either came out in support of Southwest or told him they trusted whatever decision he ended up making.
Partain said she preferred CareOne in large part because it has an ambulance in Cedarville that services her district. McCabe also cited the Cedarville station as a reason to choose CareOne, but he was last week served with an eviction notice for the Cedarville station. The writ of possession was filed by Janice Carter and includes allegations that McCabe failed to live up to the terms of the lease, including numerous failures to pay rent on time. McCabe has since filed an objection to the writ and asked for an order allowing him to occupy the Cedarville station through the end of October.
McCabe, doing business as CareOne, also owes approximately $262,500 in taxes to the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS filed three separate liens, one in January 2009 and two in October 2008.
The State Department of Finance & Administration has filed seven liens on McCabe in the last two years worth a combined $59,500.
While unaware until Monday of the extent of CareOne's debts, Hall cited the apparent financial strength of Southwest as a factor in his decision. Southwest operates in all or part of four Western Arkansas counties, and has pledged to place an ambulance between Figure Five and Cedarville and add a unit to its Alma station. The company already has two staffed advanced life support ambulances stationed in Van Buren, as well as a backup and an additional vehicle that allows for non-emergency basic life support transfers.
Hall said he hopes Southwest can take a look at putting another ambulance in Mountainburg to serve the northern part of the county.
"We've got to have a financially stable company to be able to move forward in that aspect," Hall said.
CareOne did have an ambulance in Mountainburg, but closed the station about two years ago. A man who answered the phone at CareOne's Alma offices said McCabe might be out on calls all day Tuesday, and a message seeking comment was not returned at press time.
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of The Press Argus-Courier.
Jon Doe wrote on Oct 9, 2009 1:15 AM:
" Even though Care One has fallen off the horse on things, its not about the money its all about the people who live in the county what about them? I know some may want South West because they have been pressured into it by the fire dept. that serves them, and most of the cheifs of the fire depts that are for South West have had a problem with the owner of Care One for a long time. "
Jon Doe 2 wrote on Oct 12, 2009 1:30 AM:
" I have a serious issue, has anyone really checked into what McCabe alleged in his statement that he was paramedic student of the year at the then Westark? I believe he was not the paramedic student of the year whivh goes to show he still continues to be untruthful. I have been around and seen his care and the care of some of his employees. It is like their appearence, shameful. "
Submit a Comment
We encourage your feedback and dialog, all comments will be reviewed by our Web staff before appearing on the Web site.
Jon Doe wrote on Oct 9, 2009 1:15 AM: