JUDGE’S COMMENTS
Iam pleased to report that your Milam County Commissioners Court has approved a new contract to provide air ambulance service.
Any Milam County resident can now be transported in emergency situations by PHI, which is a helicopter ambulance service without any charge beyond what the individual’s insurance pays.
For example, if the charges for a transport from Milano to Temple are $25,000. and insurance only pays $5,000, PHI will not charge for the additional $20,000.
Similarly, if the person has no insurance, there will be no charge for the transport.
This service is also applicable for Milam County residents who happen to be in an adjoining county when the transport is needed.
Thus, if an emergency transport is needed while in Lee, Burleson, Falls, Bell and/or Williamson County PHI will transport as set forth above.
The contract was actually signed last Thursday, so the provisions are now in effect.
The contract requires Milam County to pay $4 per household on an annual basis.
There are over 9.400 households listed in the county. This is a reasonable price to pay for the peace of mind the contract provides.
This service is especially important due to our current medical situation in the County.
On another issue, I spoke with St. Joseph’s Hospital representatives last week and the plan is to have a clinic open in Rockdale sometime in early September.
The building that St. Joseph’s will use is now out of bankruptcy and thus the primary issue is a subsidy.
St. Josephs and the Rockdale Hospital district are cooperating in a grant application which, if approved, will hopefully satisfy the subsidy issue.
Thanks to the Milam County commissioners, Opey Watkins, Donald Shuffield, John Fisher and Jeff Muegge for being so supportive to address our County wide medical issues.
We will continue to work on these problems, but for now we have the air ambulance service in good shape.
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