Local News Comments

1. Isn't the ambulance service a private industry?
2. Doesn't the hospital take a kickback.
3. Why should we subsidize, even though SOMEONE or SOME people are relatated in some way or taking kickbacks.

Signed,

Feeling disgruntled

Taxation without representation is illegal. In this case it means a 2/3 vote of the taxpayers.
I remember when tuolumne did a tax a few years ago...
Was illegal and the state supreme court ruled it so.
Have they did it again?
I would say YES

Here's a novel idea: Stop wasting millions of dollars on stupid projects like the unnecessary jail and juvenile detention center or our own bridge to nowhere; the 2 lane highway being built right next to a 2 lane highway.

I realize this is a tax renewal and not a new tax, but I still say no. Pay for emergency services by not wasting our money on stuff we don't need.

Surprise!!!! Is the BOD also planning on building yet another eye sore like the bypass above Standard?!? If someone had known that monstrosity was going in, I'd have help collect signatures to stop it.

Even though this tax may be a good idea; every tax put on the ballot recently has been defeated. People feel that they are being overtaxed already. It seems like every time you look at a ballot, there are tax increase measures. Working families can't afford to give any more.

Nice job spinning the issue off topic. Before you start spreading your all taxes are bad propaganda take a minute to look at what the tax is. First, the ambulance IS NOT PRIVATE! It is owned by the county, same as the Sheriffs Department. Second, Sonora Regional has nothing to do with ambulance billing, nor do they receive any money from the ambulance. Third, look at the name of the tax. There is a reason it is called the "South County Ambulance Zone Tax Measure". What that means is that only the people that live in that ambulance zone pay that tax. It was originally passed by the people of south county to ensure that there was always an ambulance in the Groveland area. They realized the need and took measures to ensure it is there

I agree squirter,when are Libs going to get that?You cant squeeze blood from a stone!!!I am broke and sick of working for those that dont

Additionally: Tuolumne County has one of the best ambulance to call ratios that I've seen. This is because it is not a private, for profit company. In Nevada County where I work, there are only 3 24 hour ambulances and they run about 10k calls per year. They will not add ambulances because the hospital owns the ambulance and is for profit. In Tuolumne County, they have 5 24 hour ambulances. That is dramatically better patient care and reduced time to get patients advanced pre hospital care. The EMS system here is terrific. I am envious of it for Nevada County. Remember one thing; if you call 911 because your mom or child is severely injured, how long do YOU want to wait for an ambulance...?

Also you are paying for an increasing amount of welfare cases that treat our ambulance service as a taxi to the hospital for a runny nose. They don't pay, won't pay but we will pay. The welfare roll is huge in the state and in THIS COUNTY folks take a look at how the budget pie is cut to find real answers.

Correct me if I'm wrong but:
Our Ambulance service is provided by a private company that contracts with the county. The ambulance service much like garbage service is run by a for profit company and is guaranteed by contract a profit.

This my friends is called out sourcing. Get ready for more of this, because the current mantra is any service provided by government is SOCIALISM!! So get ready for a monthly police, fire,ambulance,& education bill or maybe we could pay per use. I mean why should I have to pay for something I don't use even thought it benefits the greater community. Heart attack, don't have a car, can't afford the ambulance fee or a cab, don't have medical insurance, YOU ARE GOING TO DIE it was your choice.

Why doesn't Tuolumne county post the current revenue and expensive for this service, I had to use the ambulance once my bill was 2300 dollars for a 1.6 mile ride. they keep wanting to add taxes without any supporting documents, sounds like Pedro accounting.

I like the way William Ray thinks.
He does not get on here to hammer people,Hes actually very intelligent and informative.
That is my main reason to read comments on reports.
Thank you. And Groveland people can afford it.
(for the majority of retirees)
try having your 80 year old grandparent flying down preist grade because your 77 year old granma,married 55 years had a stroke.OR... he can call the ambulance.

Signed,
feeling human

Feeling Human.

As a FEELING Human I want to KNOW these things.
I want a cost breakdown..how much they charge..etc.
And last I heard, it WAS a private company.

Just because I want to know how deep you plan to dig..and if it's really justified does not make me unfeeling. It makes me smart, and makes YOU dogmatic.

wedotgot: Our ambulance is NOT run by a private company & hasn't ever been I believe. The ambulance is run by Manteca District Ambulance which is a NOT for profit enterprise. Tuolumne County owns the ambulances, the equipment etc, but Manteca Ambulance supplies the personnel who staff the ambulances. Any left over $$ is placed into the ambulance enterprise fund whichs helps cover the purchasing of new ambulances & equipment etc. It doesn't not go to the pockets of Manteca District Ambulance.

Tuolumne County Ambulance does contract with a private company (Manteca District Ambulance), however this company is a private, non profit. To learn more about Tuolumne County Ambulance and its partnership with Manteca District Ambulance see the links below.

http://portal.co.tuolumne.ca.us/psp/ps/TUO_GOVSITE/ENTP/c/TU_DEPT_MENU.TUOCM_HTML_COMP.GBL?action=U&CONTENT_PNM=EMPLOYEE&CATGID=2092&pslnkid=GOV_AMBULANCE_LINK&FolderPath=PORTAL_ROOT_OBJECT.TUP_COUNTY_DEPTS_SVCS_FLDR.TUP_HEALTH_SERVICES.GOV_AMBULANCE_LINK&IsFolder=false&IgnoreParamTempl=FolderPath%2cIsFolder

http://mantecaambulance.org/10301.html

I presume this tax will only be voted on by the people who pay it, i.e. in South County, so the rest of you miserable anti-everything people don't need to be fussed about it. You can keep paying $2,500 per pop for a one mile trip, or, in the case of a run to Modesto, $15 - 20,000, one way. Which will happen if you have something SRMC can't handle, like an emergency heart condition, and you have to be air-lifted out.

It may be quite interesting to find if the previously displayed posters and signs that made the suggestion to organize to save lives will reappear in the Groveland area to attempt to convince the majority of the voters to shoot themselves in the other foot and loose the remainder of their emergency protective services for a few dollars less in taxes.

@scc
If you feel ok taxing because "people can afford it", then you don't understand America.
And just to clarify, I'm not saying this is a bad tax per se, what I'm saying is we should boycott every tax possible until the waste stops. If they need our hard earned money so badly then they can stop flushing it every chance they get.

How do you justify 2500 for a 1 mile trip????

Yes this tax is for South County residents only, which is for the Ambulance located in Groveland which covers Big Oak Flat, Groveland, and all the way to the gates of Yosemite. This 24 hour 2 person staffed ambulance is known to cost Tuolumne County Ambulance/Manteca District Ambulance more money than it brings in from billing. This is why the tax is here. The other option is to reduce the hours of staffing and have a ambulance from Sonora to come up when one is not being staffed up in Groveland. For $70 a year, is your life, or a loved ones worth that tax in a critical emergency when you need medics there asap?

@ o-no-bigguy,

I'm not sure the cost of an ambulance ride in the Sonora area. But from Groveland to SRMC I do recall hearing quite often that it's a $2500 charge. The reason for a $2500 charge for such a short distance is mainly this. The ambulance company sends out a bill for the transport. Different insurance companies (Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Kaiser, Medi-Cal, Medicare, ect.) all pay a different percentage of that $2500 bill. Some as low as 20% or so. I'm not sure if that negotiated rate or a "take-it or leave-it" option. Not really sure if the ins company makes the patient cover any of the cost. The rest of the bill then get wrote off basically. People that don't have insurance and can't afford to pay the bill just don't pay it.

If everyone paid their bill, then a transport from Groveland to SMRC would probably actually be bill around the $500 range. But they don't so thats why it's billed out higher. To make up the difference from the payments that are only paid in 20% of the bill or no payments at all.

bigguy..
When I was in San Diego...
They took my half a mile and tried to charge me 3.500.
They kept sending the forms back to me...I kept fillin them in.
Finally....I said to hell with it.
Sending me back a form because there was a missing, @I@
when it was paid for by the navy.
Reasonable? I would call it ineptitude and harrasment.

FFgrunder, so what you're saying it's ok to rip the insurance companies off. Charge a high amount and pray that its pay off. It ok if the county want to write off the charges for the track rats, just don't raise the rates for somebody that does not have insurance and feels the need to pay their obligations. The cost of ambulance service should be part of our property tax.