Jo Co Rural Health Extends Transfer Agreement With SMH

The Johnson County Rural Health Care District has voted to extend a current agreement in place with Sheridan Memorial Hospital for transfers of some of their patients through Buffalo EMS.

Rural Health Care District board member Marie Miller, who recently discussed the issue with the hospital’s CFO, said the hospital will honor their current agreement and pay for services already rendered, but wish to reorganize the agreement, which is set to expire July 1.

According to discussions, Buffalo EMS has performed 23 transfers and billed SMH $145,000 which they have agreed to pay, but that rate is not sustainable moving forward, and wish to renegotiate the rate for the transfers.

The board voted to extend the current agreement for three months to allow time for Buffalo EMS and Sheridan Memorial to reach a new agreement for the rural healthcare board to review.