Lutheran pulls out EMS services in Fulton County, county officials to move forward with new provider

FULTON COUNTY, Ind. - The Fulton County Commissioners and Council met Wednesday evening to discuss the future of EMS in Fulton County.

Lutheran EMS services has withdrawn their proposal to provide EMS service to the county following nearly a decade of providing ambulance services to Rochester, Akron, and Kewanee.

In recent years, the provider cut the county's third ambulance, and the county would like to see that come back as they choose a new provider.

“We know that Fulton County will be in very good hands with the anticipated alternate ambulance service provider,” said Lynn Mergen, CEO of Lutheran Health Network.

“Our goal is to avoid any gap in high quality emergency coverage for this community and we will work closely with both the County and an alternate provider to support their go-forward plan,” Mergen added.

They have offered to continue services in the county until June 30.

Officials voted Wednesday to move forward with their second bidder, Heartland.

Leaders voted to raise taxes to cover the cost of hiring Heartland, with contract negotiations expected to begin soon.

The council confirmed there is sufficient funding to get things started, but it will seek a 2% tax approved by the state to be used for EMS only.

For a household with an income around $50,000 annually, it will cost roughly $100 per year.

While county leaders don't want to raise taxes, they say it needs to be done for the sake of public safety.

Bryan Lewis, Fulton County Commissioner, stated, "When you look at stuff like this, it's the term you know, 'it takes a village', comes to mind, you know, because it takes us all, to look out for each other, and to help our neighbor and our brother out.  So, hopefully, it'll be an easy transition for the taxpayer.  And we just need to move ahead and help our neighbors out."