Fla. County to Enter into Negotiations with Vendor to Replace Lifestar Air Medical Service

Oct. 22--MARTIN COUNTY -- After a 10-month flat line, rescue helicopter service is on its way to recovery.

Martin County Fire Rescue will enter into contract negotiations with PHI Air Medical LLC, an outside vendor that provides air transportation for critical trauma patients, following a Martin County Commission vote Tuesday.

In January, Lifestar, the county's longtime provider, quit. Since then, St. Lucie County has filled in. But St. Lucie's helicopter isn't always available and that delay puts lives at risk, according to Martin County Fire Rescue officials.

Now, the county is considering a five-year contract with PHI, a national air ambulance provider with 65 bases throughout the country, according to the company's website.

Fire Rescue Chief Joe Ferrara presented the commission with three negotiating options, each of which would cost about $2.6 million a year for expenses including pilots, aircraft maintenance and mechanics for service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The first -- the one selected by the County Commission -- would rely exclusively on Martin County paramedics. The second option would have one county paramedic and one PHI medic; the third would have two PHI medics.

The county would collect revenue from insurance companies and private billing based on rates it determines. The county would need to collect from $9,400 to $10,600 per patient transport, based on 250 transports a year, Ferrara said. Any shortfall would be made up with property tax dollars.

Borrowing St. Lucie's helicopter costs about $30,000 a ride, Ferrara said.

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