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StatFlight offers Commissioners flight plan for all residents
A proposal to the Putnam County Commissioners would make medical flights with a local provider free of charge to all residents.
On Monday, Jill Spaulding of PHI Air Medical, known locally as StatFlight, made the proposal to the Commissioners that for $6 per household annually, the cost of a flight for any county resident would be paid entirely.
This means that for a total cost of $81,258 annually to the county, all 13,543 households would be enrolled in a plan that would cover the costs of a flight by StatFlight from Putnam or any adjacent county.
“That’s a restricted area, that’s how we can do it so cheaply,” Spaulding said.
This would include all deductibles and copays. Spaulding further pointed out that, even with high-deductible plans, this would mean that the out-of-pocket expenses would be considered covered by the insurance company for the patient in question.
StatFlight is based out of the Putnam County Regional Airport, meaning it does many of the runs for this area.
However, Spaulding did allow that at times other air ambulance services respond to Putnam County. In such cases, the flight would not be covered.
“Our coverage, legally, cannot carry over to somebody else,” Spaulding said, “and their coverage does not carry over to us.”
However, StatFlight still covers a lot of flights in this area. She noted that in 2021, the local StatFlight base completed 75 flights with local residents. Through May, they had done 25 for 2022.
She noted that within one or two flights, residents would have saved as much money as the total annual cost to the county.
Additionally, StatFlight has seven bases throughout Indiana, with a West Lafayette base that can also respond to this area.
StatFlight actually has 63 bases throughout the country, and offers a number of plans to individual households, up to nationwide coverage. Spaulding said that even if the Commissioners opt for the limited plan, residents would be offered the chance to upgrade to a wider-ranging plan.
“This is available to your county residents as a perk, but there is no guarantee that we would be the first call,” Spaulding said.
She noted, however, that when patients are coherent, they have the right to request a particular service.
No decision on the matter was made, though the Commissioners may contact officials in Warren and Fountain counties, which have such an agreement with StatFlight already established.
In other business:
• The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office informed the Commissioners of the pending purchase of three new vehicles — one Chevrolet Tahoe for a road deputy and two Chevrolet Traverses for detectives.
Chief Deputy Matt Demmings said no additional funds will be needed, though the Commissioners will have to sign the lease.
Head Matron Tresha Clearwaters noted that funds are already in place to make the first year’s payment, so it will essentially be a two-year lease.
Demmings further noted that five vehicles from the sheriff’s fleet, not all of them police cars, are set to be taken out of service in the next month or so. Disposal options could include giving them to other local emergency departments.
• The Commissioners received two requests for 2023 funding as budget season approaches.
Thrive West Central is requesting $18,305 for 2023. In 2022, the Commissioners gave $12,097 from the Economic Development Income Tax (EDIT) Plan.
In previous years, the county had actually paused its annual contribution to the district, which was formerly known as West Central Indiana Economic Development District. However, Putnam has resumed funding, though not always at the requested level, due to perceiving an increased commitment by the Terre Haute-based partnership to its westernmost county.
Commissioner David Berry, who represents the Commissioners on the Thrive board, said the cooperative is “making strides after we had a discussion with them.”
Decisions on the EDIT plan are not generally made until February, so County Attorney Jim Ensley said he would put the request in the EDIT file, giving the Commissioners time to consider how to proceed.
Additionally, West Central Solid Waste District, a partnership between Putnam and Parke counties that is of no relation to the other West Central, is requesting $82,634 from Putnam County, or $2.25 per person.
This matter will have to be considered as part of the 2023 county budget in the coming months.
• Commissioners Berry and Tom Helmer have been seeking storage alternatives to Jones School, which the county needs to demolish.
While no agreements have been reached, both men said they will continue looking for options.
• Commissioner Rick Woodall reported that the new insurance year, which begins next month, will see a 5-percent increase from Anthem, down from the 10.48-percent increase that was originally proposed.
He said he planned to speak to the County Council about how to fund this increase.
Additionally, the county has asked its insurance agent to look into doing a self-funded plan for the year beginning in August 2023. It’s unclear if this will be a viable option, but a full year to consider the matter will be helpful.
The Commissioners next meet on Tuesday, July 5 at 9 a.m. on the first floor of the Putnam County Courthouse. The meeting will not be on Monday due to the Independence Day holiday.