Putnam Drops Controversial Ambulance Service After 18 Months

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — Putnam County has dropped the California-based company with which it signed a five-year contract at the end of 2021 for EMS/ambulance services, and is going back to its previous provider.

Beginning Sunday, Empress Ambulance Services returns following a competitive selection process, county officials said.

The scope of the new agreement was developed by the Putnam County Bureau of Emergency Services, the County’s Purchasing Department, and individuals from the emergency services community, specifically members of the Emergency Services Safety Advisory Board and EMS Council. The Putnam Legislature in June considered a resolution to obtain municipal ambulance services operation authority for the county. The Bureau sought the resolution in order to obtain more bids from ALS providers throughout the region.

Empress was chosen because it submitted the lowest responsible proposal, demonstrated an ability to implement services in a timely manner, and has a direct knowledge of providing services in Putnam County, officials said.

"Providing for the health and well-being of our residents will always be a top priority, and we’re excited to have a new agreement with a strong, reputable partner like Empress to bring quality services to Putnam," County Executive Kevin Byrne said in the announcement. "We thank Ambulnz for all their work over the past 18 months in providing emergency care to residents."

Earlier this year, Ambulnz requested a new contract be negotiated to provide ALS services for all of Putnam County. Putnam agreed to entertain a new proposal but made it clear that they would open the process to competing proposals as well.

The contract with Empress is for a minimum of 3 years at $8.3 million, with potential for 2 additional years.

It had been previously reported that Ambulnz significantly underbid their initial contract, county officials said.

The previous administration's deal with Ambulnz late in 2021 surprised and infuriated many local ambulance corps and municipal financial officers. The California company replaced Empress EMS/EMStar, whose contract with the county was expiring at the end of the year. Ambulnz, which changed its name to DocGo, operated in 26 states and the UK.

The Putnam County Legislature approved the contract, despite concerns expressed at a Protective Services Committee meeting with members of the administration and a packed audience about the contract which Ambulnz had just signed. Listen to the discussion here.

"My budget is going to take a tremendous hit," Robert Kearns, EMS administrator for the town of Patterson, said at the meeting.

The emergency services commissioner for the previous administration, Ken Clair, said at the time that the county had decided to ask for a higher level of service, but the competing bids from Empress and Ambulnz came in at triple the budgeted amount. The county countered by paring back its request — and Ambulnz offered to do more while charging only what the county had paid in 2021 for fewer services.

Ambulnz at the time said it expected to pick up an additional $500,000 or so through higher fees charged back to local ambulance corps/fire departments/towns plus an assessment fee for calls, that the local agencies would have to cover then try to get back from the patients and insurers.

County officials said at the meeting that fee schedules were between the company and the towns or ambulance corps or fire departments and not the county's responsibility.

Kearns and others told the lawmakers that the deal was made on the backs of Putnam residents, local ambulance corps/ fire departments and towns whose budgets had been set for months. Other concerns with the new plan had to do with personnel. Empress had 70 employees covering Putnam County; most would not take the new service's offer of pay and benefits.

"This new agreement is a significant improvement and a win for county residents," said Putnam County Bureau of Emergency Services Commissioner Bob Lipton. "The input we’ve received from those in the emergency services community was critical to this new contract, and we’re thankful for their input. There was a lot of collaboration to make this happen in such a timely manner."

Unlike numerous other programs implemented by county government, ALS services are not mandated for county governments by the state or federal government. Putnam County, unlike surrounding counties, has taken on the responsibility with the understanding that providing this service is essential. It also provides a substantial cost savings to local towns and villages, county officials said.

"Empress has a stellar reputation in the Hudson Valley and I’m hopeful that this new contract will serve our community well," said Legislator Ginny Nacerino, Chair of the Protective Services Committee. "I look forward to hearing from Empress representatives at our next legislative Protective Services Committee meeting later this month."

Alex Roehner, Putnam County’s Director of Emergency Medical Services, promised to work with Empress and Ambulnz to allow for a smooth transition.

"We feel Empress Ambulance Services will be able to provide services to ensure the health and safety of our residents," he said.