Panel rejects new ambulance service

The City Council Public Safety Committee voted 3-0 Monday to recommend that the full Council disapprove an application from Acute Medical Services, LLC of Humble, Texas, to provide nonemergency ambulance services in Austin/Travis County. Although Austin Travis County Emergency Medical Services provides the only emergency ambulance service, there are two franchisees that provide nonemergency transport, American Medical Response and Acadian Ambulance Service, according to EMS spokesman Rick Branning. Branning told the committee that Acute Medical Services had applied to operate in Travis County last September. The department performed a final review and vehicle inspection in April and found significant deficiencies, including an inability to demonstrate sufficient liability insurance. In addition, he said, the vehicles proposed for use were missing required medicine. Staff recommended to the ATCEMS advisory board that members disapprove the application. Council will set a public hearing on the franchise application as part of Thursday’s Council meeting.