KANSAS CITY, MO. -
Kansas City's MAST Ambulance Service may soon be taken over by the city. Instead of being merged into the fire department, a committee says MAST should be a stand-alone city department.
MAST managers say taxpayers would be better served by the EMS agency remaining independent.
MAST receives a $12 million taxpayer subsidy that's been going down in recent years. A city committee believes taxpayers would save about $1 million dollars a year by taking over MAST . But, MAST managers aren't buying it.
MAST paramedics aren't sure about their future now that an advisory committee says the ambulance service should become it's own city agency.
MAST managers believe a city takeover actually will cost, not save, taxpayers more money.
Jason White, MAST manager, said, "The fact is our subsidy level from the city of Kansas City has dropped over $2 million in the last three years. We're demonstrating cost efficiency. Yet at a time when City Hall is laying off over 200 employees, they're suddenly interested in trying to take on over 300 employees from MAST. And take the gamble they can continue to provide clinical excellence, meet those response time standards."
MAST claims to have one of the highest cardiac arrest save rates in the nation, and managers believe a city takeover will put quality of care in jeopardy.
The mayor originally proposed that MAST be absorbed by the fire department. No one here expected a recommendation that MAST become a separate city agency.
"I think my initial recommendation that it become part of the fire department is where we will wind up and frankly, I would like to see us do that sooner rather than later," said Mayor Mark Funkhouser. "But, I am encouraged that this was a unanimous recommendation."
The mayor believes there will be a residency requirement for city EMS workers. But, he says all current MAST workers would be grandfathered in.
The city committee says any takeover should take place gradually. But, some are predicting it will happen within a year.
MAST managers say taxpayers would be better served by the EMS agency remaining independent.
MAST receives a $12 million taxpayer subsidy that's been going down in recent years. A city committee believes taxpayers would save about $1 million dollars a year by taking over MAST . But, MAST managers aren't buying it.
MAST paramedics aren't sure about their future now that an advisory committee says the ambulance service should become it's own city agency.
MAST managers believe a city takeover actually will cost, not save, taxpayers more money.
Jason White, MAST manager, said, "The fact is our subsidy level from the city of Kansas City has dropped over $2 million in the last three years. We're demonstrating cost efficiency. Yet at a time when City Hall is laying off over 200 employees, they're suddenly interested in trying to take on over 300 employees from MAST. And take the gamble they can continue to provide clinical excellence, meet those response time standards."
MAST claims to have one of the highest cardiac arrest save rates in the nation, and managers believe a city takeover will put quality of care in jeopardy.
The mayor originally proposed that MAST be absorbed by the fire department. No one here expected a recommendation that MAST become a separate city agency.
"I think my initial recommendation that it become part of the fire department is where we will wind up and frankly, I would like to see us do that sooner rather than later," said Mayor Mark Funkhouser. "But, I am encouraged that this was a unanimous recommendation."
The mayor believes there will be a residency requirement for city EMS workers. But, he says all current MAST workers would be grandfathered in.
The city committee says any takeover should take place gradually. But, some are predicting it will happen within a year.
