TOPSHAM

With a deadlocked vote Thursday night, no decisions were made on hiring someone to run billing for Topsham’s emergency medical services.

Fire Chief Chris McLaughlin made it clear, though, that help is needed for the department to process the bills. He had requested selectmen approve hiring an outside billing service. The fire department currently has one staff member processing its EMS bills; McLaughlin said it received 1,267 EMS calls in 2017.

“We’re probably on pace for at least that and we have one staff member that does all of our billing for us,” he said. “She does a great job, however, she does that in conjunction with her normal duties.”

According to a staff estimate, it takes about 16 hours of work for every 37 calls. McLaughlin noted that not every call gets billed, but they must be processed.

“In my history, from what I’ve seen everyone that has gone to a billing com- pany has actually increased their revenues,” said McLaughlin. “We don’t follow up on bills like we should because we don’t have time.”

Although billing services take a percentage of ambulance revenue, his research has shown making the move would pay dividends. In Gardiner, for example, McLaughlin said its department saw a 10 percent increase just from changing billing companies.

“The expense is almost always hidden by the increase in revenue that you receive from a professional company to do this,” he said.

The department’s anticipated revenue is $300,000 annually, McLaughlin said, but forecasted it would be more than that this year. He received a proposal from a billing company that would take 6 percent — or $18,000 — for providing billing services.

Currently, the town pays about $4,500 for the software to do the billing.

In addition to an anticipated revenue increase, McLaughlin said another benefit of using an outside company would be an increase in service because personnel wouldn’t be used to process the bills.

Selectmen were undecided though, with a 2-2 split vote and one member absent.

“I’ve been involved in the town for 30 years and this has always been a nightmare for EMS,” said Selectwoman Ruth Lyons. “When you put a company in the middle from the local service, I think there’s more response for them to pay.”

The debate, however, centered around the potential to restructure an administrative position in the police department. The person filling that role is retiring and some selectmen wanted to see if that position could fill the need for additional billing services.

“I’m not going to vote in favor of this tonight,” said Chairman David Douglass. “I’m going to ask a plan be put together by emergency services and the town manager. What can that position do for both departments? Including billing.”

In other business, selectmen accepted a $24,995 grant roof work on the Topsham Fairgrounds grandstand. The Sagadahoc Agricultural and Horticultural Society, which organizes the fair, will provide the rest of the funding for the estimated $56,037 project.

With the grandstand housing a museum for visitors underneath, the roof work would be a preemptive measure to protect the structure. A new roof could happen quickly following this year’s fair, which will run from Aug. 7-12, as the grant requires the project to be completed by September 2019.

chris@timesrecord.com

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