County secures contract with AirCareMed

WORLAND – The Washakie County Commission met Tuesday to hear regular department reports, and finalized a contract to continue air medical services for the county with Guardian Flight, now part of the AirMedCare Services.

Holly Anderson with AirMedCare gave a presentation to the commission at 11 a.m. and accepted a check for $42,188 to cover all 8,500 residents of Washakie County for air medical services, including in 38 states that operate in AirMedCare network.

As explained by Anderson, the cost of the service without the agreement with the county would be an average of $18,000 per flight, after insurance.

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 would increase to $3.25 per resident in 2017, and $3.50 per resident in 2018. The 2019 agreement is the equivalent to $4.60 per resident. The contract is up for renewal every three years.

The previous, one-year contract with Guardian was expected to expire on Nov. 17. The new contract will take effect on that date, and residents will be sent notices in the mail of the services offered, at no charge, by AirMedCare.

Although Guardian Flight membership cards are available at the county clerk’s office, no card is needed, said Anderson, as residents need only a name and birthdate to use the services.

To qualify, patients only need a Washakie County address, and the agreement covers Washakie County-based college students studying out of state.

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.

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).

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.