Today's headlines | E-edition | Subscribe
Contact Us | Sign In
May 22, 2013
5-day Forecast Tulsa World  
NEWS SECTIONS
 
COLUMNISTS
 
CONTINUING COVERAGE

Ruin revealed: Wreckage from Moore's 'storm of storms' surveyed

The EF5 tornado that killed at least 24 people and gutted a wide swath of this tornado-weary community Monday was deemed “the storm of storms” as officials surveyed the muddy, splintered rubble that remained.

 
NEWS BLOGS
COLLEGE SECTIONS
 
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
 
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
 
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
 
SPORTS TV/RADIO SCHEDULE

Athletes aid Moore tornado victims by providing helping hands and relief

The athletes have spoken. Moore, Oklahoma, will rebuild.

Related Story: Durant, Thunder pledge millions in assistance

 
PRO SECTIONS
 
OTHER SECTIONS
 
SPORTS BLOGS
BUSINESS SECTIONS
 
COLUMNS

Tornado has insurance industry poised for deluge of claims

As Oklahoma communities grapple with the devastation caused by this week's deadly tornadoes, the financial impact from the loss of homes and other property remains unclear.

 
BUSINESS BLOGS
 
SPECIAL REPORTS
OPINION SECTIONS
 
COLUMNS
 
EDITORIAL CARTOONS

Brian Hunt: Budget must prioritize public education

We will be the first to admit, we were hoping for more to fund reforms.

SCENE SECTIONS
 
COLUMNS
 
 
CONTINUING COVERAGE

We have two pair of Paul McCartney tickets to give away. Want 'em?

Here’s your (two) chance(s) to win one of two pairs of tickets to see Paul McCartney perform May 30 at the BOK Center.

 
SCENE BLOGS
CLASSIFIEDS SECTIONS
 
SERVICE DIRECTORY
 
PETS
 
HOMES
 
AUTOS
 
OTHER VEHICLES

Continuing
Coverage

Photos and stories from the 2013 Moore tornado. Who is Tulsa's next mayor?
CONTINUING COVERAGE TOPICS

CONTINUING COVERAGE

EMSA investigation

EMSA CEO Steve Williamson is framed by a doorway as he speaks during an EMSA board meeting Feb. 27. Photo by MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World

Overview: A Tulsa World investigation into EMSA’s financial practices has revealed the agency charged and sued area residents for ambulance services when they were in a utility fee program that should have covered the services. The revelation has led EMSA to begin offering refunds and a lawsuit seeking class-action status has been filed.

The Emergency Medical Services Authority is a government agency that provides ambulance service to more than 1 million people in Tulsa, Oklahoma City and surrounding suburbs. Tulsa residents pay a monthly $3.64 fee on their utility bill to cover expenses unless they opt out of the program. EMSA contracts for medical service with Paramedics Plus and the controversy is not related to the quality of medical care provided by paramedics.

EMSA claims the utility program covers any out-of-pocket costs for emergency transport, but a Tulsa World investigation that started in October has revealed:

> EMSA bills were turned over to collection agencies and lawsuits were filed. These bills went to patients whose charges should have been covered by their utility bill.

> EMSA is sending bills to all customers that state "due from patient" with the full cost of the transport, usually $1,100. The bill fails to state those in the program don't need to pay.

> EMSA instituted a policy without the knowledge of city officials or approval of its board. It makes patients responsible for costs if they fail to provide insurance information within 60 days.



> EMSA made extravagant purchases. It had $6.6 million cash on hand in 2011, while the agency’s expenses in previous years included a $999 Christmas tree, a $3,200 charcoal grill, office chairs costing more than $1,000 apiece and a $9,000 area rug.

> EMSA spent lavishly on travel. Its CEO, Steve Williamson, charged a $100 car wash to the agency and had a 1984 doctor's note stating he could only fly first class. EMSA also threw a $3,000 retirement party for an executive who continued to work for the agency as a consultant.

A state audit on EMSA was released on Jan. 22, 2013. It confirms and expands on the findings of the World’s investigation, including making recommendations for improvements to EMSA’s patient address system. Read the full audit.

EMSA Board of Trustees
Eight of the 11 members of the EMSA Board of Trustees are appointed by the cities of Tulsa and Oklahoma City. One member represents the Tulsa-area suburbs and another represents the western division non-beneficiary jurisdictions. The medical director also has a position on the EMSA Board of Trustees. The board members are:



Gary Marrs, (left) city councilor, Oklahoma City; Jim Rodgers MD, neurosurgeon, Tulsa NeuroSpine; Ed Shadid MD, city councilor, Oklahoma City; Larry Stevens, representing City of Edmond; and Lillian Perryman, chairwoman, director of Emergency Services, Integris Health.



Jeffrey Goodloe MD, (left) medical director, Medical Control Board; Clay Bird, chief economic development director, City of Tulsa; Mark Joslin, representing City of Sand Springs; Phil Lakin, city councilor, Tulsa; and Joe M. Hodges, president, St. Anthony Hospital.

Expense database
Search a Tulsa World database of EMSA travel-related costs, including meetings, meals and seminar expenses. The records represent expenses paid by EMSA from July 1, 2009 through Oct. 19, 2011.

View a copy of selected EMSA travel and meal receipts

Utility billing database
Search by address or by name of apartment complex to determine if the property has opted in or out of the TotalCare program.

Contact EMSA
EMSA CEO Steve Williamson said anyone who believes they were wrongly charged for services or paid ambulance bills they did not owe should call the agency. He said EMSA will give refunds if that occurred.

If you believe you have been wrongly charged for services, you can contact EMSA at:

Eastern division: 918-396-2888
Western division: 405-396-2888

Contact the reporter
Enterprise Editor Ziva Branstetter, 918-581-8306, ziva.branstetter@tulsaworld.com.
HEADLINES
EMSA rate hike extension approved by Tulsa City Council

EMSA rate hike extension approved by Tulsa City Council   4/5/2013

'When 80 percent of your user cost is tied to your vendor cost and you reduce the pool of competition among your vendors, there is no way for me to know that you are guaranteeing the best possible rate to the citizens of Tulsa,' Councilor G.T. Bynum, who along with Councilor Karen Gilbert opposed the measure, said after the meeting.
City councilors approve EMSA rate hike

City councilors approve EMSA rate hike   4/4/2013

The council’s vote Thursday was on whether to maintain the $200 increase, which went into effect last summer, or to let it revert to $1,100 on April 22.
EMSA in Oklahoma may reconsider disqualification of potential provider

EMSA in Oklahoma may reconsider disqualification of potential provider   4/1/2013

A company disqualified from seeking Tulsa's ambulance contract said the board vote was 'completely shocking' and the first action of its kind in the company's 68-year history.

EMSA CEO urges rate increase   3/29/2013

EMSA CEO Steve Williamson urged city councilors Thursday to not let the organization's problems in the past affect their decision on whether to maintain a previously approved rate increase for emergency ambulance transport.
Concerns raised over EMSA board's vote to disqualify bidder on ambulance contract

Concerns raised over EMSA board's vote to disqualify bidder on ambulance contract   3/28/2013

EMSA board members voted Wednesday to disqualify one of three companies vying for the agency's lucrative ambulance contract, with several board members voting against the move out of concerns about the fairness of the process.
EMSA board discusses bidder information in executive session

EMSA board discusses bidder information in executive session   3/27/2013

'This is sensitive information is not allowed to be released to the public. It is both under state and federal law a trade secret,' said EMSA attorney Jim Orbison.
EMSA schedules closed-door session to talk contract bidding qualifications

EMSA schedules closed-door session to talk contract bidding qualifications   3/27/2013

The EMSA board has scheduled an executive session Wednesday to discuss information submitted by companies seeking its ambulance contract, citing a general exemption in the state Open Meeting Act.
EMSA trustees approve reforms

EMSA trustees approve reforms   2/28/2013

EMSA's board voted Wednesday to stop making charitable donations, require employees to disclose possible conflicts of interest and end a practice of making tax-free purchases for its private contractor.
EMSA board makes policy changes as result of audit

EMSA board makes policy changes as result of audit   2/27/2013

The changes would require a more detailed review of expenditures and would require their contractor, Paramedics Plus, to directly purchase its own supplies and fuel.
EMSA CEO defends service's reliability

EMSA CEO defends service's reliability   2/15/2013

EMSA CEO Steve Williamson defended his organization's response times Thursday, telling city councilors that citizens of Tulsa have a world-class ambulance service.
EMSA leader defends ambulance service's response times

EMSA leader defends ambulance service's response times   2/14/2013

EMSA CEO Steve Williamson defended his organization’s response times Thursday, telling city councilors that citizens of Tulsa have a world-class ambulance service.
Data show delay in EMSA response times

Data show delay in EMSA response times   2/14/2013

EMSA reported that its ambulances were delayed in responding to at least 80 calls so far this year, a situation city officials say is not an isolated or temporary problem.

Stricter oversight sought for EMSA   2/8/2013

Mayor Dewey Bartlett would like the EMSA board of trustees to consider reviewing all discretionary expenditures of $500 or more, his appointee to the board told city councilors Thursday.
EMSA helps its paramedic provider avoid taxes, investigation shows

EMSA helps its paramedic provider avoid taxes, investigation shows   1/27/2013

EMSA allowed its contractor, a Texas-based paramedic provider, to receive more than $7 million worth of fuel and other items at EMSA's tax-free rate, an apparent violation of state law and the company's contract, a Tulsa World investigation has found.
EMSA board promises to regain trust after audit

EMSA board promises to regain trust after audit   1/24/2013

Several EMSA board members vowed Wednesday to work toward regaining public trust following a highly critical state audit.

EMSA audit could put ambulance rate hike in jeopardy   1/24/2013

The audit of EMSA that was released Tuesday could put in jeopardy an ambulance rate hike proposal the City Council is considering, at least two city councilors said Wednesday.
EMSA board reviews audit critical of agency spending

EMSA board reviews audit critical of agency spending   1/23/2013

EMSA’s board reviewed the findings of a state audit today, with several board members vowing to help the agency regain the public’s trust.
EMSA audit finds lavish 'unwarranted and extravagant' items

EMSA audit finds lavish 'unwarranted and extravagant' items   1/23/2013

EMSA spent lavishly on 'unwarranted and extravagant' items including $905 for two spa treatments for its CEO, $35,190 for floral arrangements, $23,000 for employee fitness classes and two employee parties costing more than $4,000 each, a state audit finds.
State audit critical of EMSA spending

State audit critical of EMSA spending   1/22/2013

EMSA spent lavishly on items including more than $800 for spa treatments for its CEO and a retirement party costing $4,300 at which three employees were given $400 Mont Blanc pens, according to an investigative audit by the state Auditor and Inspector’s Office.
State expected to release EMSA audit in January

State expected to release EMSA audit in January   12/24/2012

State auditors spent more than three months combing through records and interviewing employees of the city's ambulance provider and expect to release a final audit next month.
Load More
EMSA AUDIT
The EMSA audit, released on Jan. 22, 2013, follows an earlier Tulsa World investigation into the agency’s billing and spending practices. It confirms and expands on the findings of the World’s investigation, including making recommendations for improvements to EMSA’s patient address system. The audit covers the period Jan. 1, 2009 through June 30, 2012.

Document: View the EMSA audit.

Document: View the response from EMSA's management to the recommendations made in the audit.

Document: View EMSA's code of conduct.
KEY DOCUMENTS
Read a report about some of EMSA's problems, its action on them, MRO's assessment and future steps.

Read EMSA's request for proposals for its upcoming paramedic contract.

Read the University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine's study on emergency medical systems.

See copies of the two types of statements EMSA plans to send to members and non-members of a city utility program.

View EMSA's proposed changes to the TotalCare membership agreement.

View the plaintiffs' second amended petition.

View the calendar of events for operations contractor RFP.

Read the EMSA code of conduct.

Read the contract between EMSA and Paramedics Plus.

Read the contract between EMSA and the law firm of Works and Lentz.

View the list of 124 cases in which people were sued by EMSA since Jan. 1, 2009, whose addresses are listed as included in the utility fee program designed to cover out-of-pocket costs.

View a judge's order to dismiss an EMSA lawsuit against Melissa Crowder.

View a judge's order to dismiss an EMSA lawsuit against Mandy and Brian Scrapper.

View the EMSA motion to dismiss lawsuit due to "clerical error."

View the new version of the lawsuit against EMSA filed by Priscilla Johnson and Evan Hughes.

View an EMSA bill and an ambulance services lien sent to a patient.

View a letter to EMSA from a patient asking for a release of charges and the response from EMSA.

View the first statement EMSA sends to patients until insurance information is received.

View the EMSA document patients receive once insurance is confirmed.

See the City Water Bill Insert about Tulsa's TotalCare ambulance program.

Read state regulations related to crime victims and debt collection.

Read the options for funding EMSA presented to a Tulsa City Council committee.

Read the contract between EMSA and collection agency FMS Inc.

Read the contract between EMSA and the law firm Works, Lentz & Pottorf.

Read a copy of Paramedics Plus and EMSA policies on employee requirements and driving standards.

Read the EMSA policy to look up households to determine which customers have opted in or out of the utility fee program.

Read EMSA's utility program receipts and disbursements for 2008 through an estimate for 2012.

Read the opt out notification form for the EMSA TotalCare program.

Read the 2007 original proposal for funding EMSA in Tulsa that included TotalCare.

Read the EMSA patient collection process policy.

Read emails about bills: Emails sent 12/29/2011 / Emails sent 1/6/2011 / Emails sent 3/29/2011-4/1/2011 / Email sent 4/8/2011 / Email sent 4/8/2011
CONTINUING COVERAGE TOPICS
View Full Site

© 2013 Tulsa World. All rights reserved.