Country grants contract with AirMedCare for Guardian flights

WORLAND – After a recommendation by the county attorney, Washakie county commissioners voted on Oct. 2 to move forward with a contract to continue air medical services for the county with Guardian Flight, now part of the AirMedCare Services.

"AirMedcare is in the process of entering into a new agreement with the county, very similar to the agreement with Guardian, except the terms are better and I've recommended the county move forward with it," said County Attorney John Worrall. "In a sense, we will still be with Guardian."

Worrall also explained that the county's goal, ultimately, is to avoid any lapse in coverage for county residents covered under the current plan. The original, one-year contract with Guardian was expected to expire within weeks.

Guardian Flight, recently acquired by Air Medical Group Holdings Inc. (AMGH), operates a fleet of approximately 100 fixed and rotor wing aircraft dedicated to air medical flights in the Upper Midwest, Mountain West, Southwest, Alaska and Hawaii. With more than 800 professional staff, including clinical providers, pilots, mechanics, trained communicators and support staff, Guardian Flight's aircraft and associated medical crews are at 55 bases in 13 states that serve a total of 15 states.

"The change to Guardian Flight reflects the new legal structure of all of our entities and eliminates potential confusion between AMRG and AMGH," said Guardian Flight president Fred Buttrell, who also serves as CEO of AMGH, in a recent press release. "Importantly, the rebranding of our Guardian Flight umbrella company provides an opportunity to build a reputation for providing the finest possible servant care of the patients we transport," he added

All of the Guardian Flight companies are active in AirMedCare Network, the largest alliance of affiliated air ambulance providers. An AirMedCare Network membership automatically enrolls participants in all participating providers' membership programs providing necessary transport at a nominal membership fee. It has 3 million members in 38 states.

Guardian Flight companies include Eagle Air Med serving parts of Arizona, New Mexico, South Dakota, Colorado and Utah; Hawaii Life Flight in Hawaii; Guardian Flight in Alaska and Wyoming. Companies also include Gallup Med Flight and MedStar in New Mexico; Valley Med Flight in North Dakota, Michigan, Montana, and Minnesota; Alaska Regional LifeFlight in Alaska; MountainStar AirCare operating in Utah; and AeroCare Medical Transport serving in Arizona.

The county first entered the air medical coverage plan with Guardian in 2015, when the county commission agreed to a three year, $25,000 contract with Guardian Flight. The county switched from previously using EagleMed (now Reach).

In accordance with the original, contract for service with the county, Guardian flight guaranteed Guardian Plus Membership to each resident of Washakie County (approximately 8,500 people), with the county paying $3 per person, for a total of $25,500 for the first year of service. Under the contract agreement, the membership fee for the county increased to $3.25 per resident in 2017, and $3.50 per resident in 2018. The contract is up for renewal every three years.

Matt Strauss, program director for Guardian, explained to the commission during initial contract talks, that no cost would ever be incurred by Washakie County residents. "Guardian will be paid by Medicare or insurance and whatever they don't cover will be written off by the company," said Strauss. "If someone is uninsured, that flight will be written off as well. No one from Washakie County will ever receive a bill from us."

One of six Guardian bases in Wyoming, Washakie County hosts Guardian at the Worland Municipal Airport, where the flight crew of qualified, medical personnel maintain a base of operations, 24 hours a day, to provide service with a Beechcraft King Air C-90B aircraft. A twin turbo-prop aircraft, the C-90B is capable of reaching speeds of 270 mph, with a range of 1,100 miles. The aircraft is fully equipped with a medical ICU, much like a conventional ambulance.

In the first year of service to Washakie County, Guardian successfully transported 186 patients.