Lincoln selectmen back 13-town paramedic authority to replace Emerson Hospital

LINCOLN -- November 2, 2009, Lincoln selectmen endorse 13-town paramedic authority to replace Emerson Hospital service ending in 2010. The board voted unanimously to support continued planning for the Central Middlesex Emergency Rescue Authority and, separately, to raise the town's ambulance billing rate from Medicare plus 40 percent to Medicare plus 200 percent, with no balance billing of Lincoln residents. Fire Chief Arthur Cotoni said the authority would contract with a private vendor, likely Cambridge-based Pro EMS, run by CEO Bill Mergendahl, for paramedic response, billing and dispatch, deploying two chase vehicles 24/7 and a possible third for 16 hours. Six towns have confirmed; about three peripheral communities will likely pursue mutual aid. Town Administrator Tim Higgins said the model requires "no upfront money" and no general fund subsidy, with all paramedics employed by the vendor. Higgins separately reported that the governor's mid-year cuts trimmed Lincoln's $369,000 state-owned land payment by 40 percent.