VIENNA — The Maries-Osage Ambulance District (MOAD) will be increasing its loaded mileage rate effective Jan. 1, 2020 from $16, which was an increase over the previous year, to a new, higher rate of $17.50 for the miles the ambulance travels with a patient.

At the December meeting, Board Secretary Wilma Stephen asked Administrator Brian Opoka how the district is doing financially and if more income is needed, and board member Laura Stratman asked if the district’s income is down this year and Opoka replied, “Yes,” to both questions.

Stephen asked what Medicare is paying now and Opoka said it will pay up to $17.50 per loaded mile, adding that if the district isn’t charging $17.50, “We’re leaving money on the table.”

Stratman asked if the individual is responsible for the remainder of the bill if a patient’s insurance only pays a certain amount. Office Manager Carla Butler said it depends on the insurance as some companies pay and some don’t. The board approved the new $17.50 loaded mile rate for 2020.

In other business at the December MOAD Board meeting:

• The board members discussed and approved the 2020 budget. Opoka said the overall revenues and expenditures are up $9,000. The Medicare payment will increase by 1.8 percent and this will add to the revenue side of the budget.

The minimum payment on the Freeburg Base property is $9,000 and he increased the payment by $2,000. Other changes he noted for the board members is a $500 increase in workers compensation insurance, a $500 decrease in the education/training line, a $4,000 increase in medical supplies, and a $3,000 increase in insurance for buildings, vehicles, and other.

The six month budget is estimated at $335,750. The annual budget totals for revenue and expenditures is estimated at $671,500.

• The board members discussed the Graves & Associates 2019 audit proposal, which increased $290, from $5,825 in 2018 to $6,115 for 2019. Board member Victor Stratman asked if an audit is required each year. Opoka said it’s not required every year but he thinks its better to do it annually. Board President Don Lanning said Graves & Associates has been doing MOAD’s audit for many years. Victor Stratman said maybe getting bids will “keep everybody honest.”

The Graves’ bid may be the cheapest one. Board Vice President Steve Maxwell said if it has been more than 10 years since they bid the audit, it’s probably a good idea to do it this year. The board approved advertising for bids for the district’s audit.

• The new 2019 Ford E-350 gasoline engine ambulance arrived at the Vienna Base the day of the meeting, and board members inspected it. Osage Industries refurbished the used, district-owned ambulance box that was placed on the new truck. Members agreed it looks very good.

Opoka said there was not enough money in the ambulance fund to pay for it, and they decided to pay for all of it from the saving account. The total cost was $90,645. There was $63,142.18 in  the ambulance fund account and Stephen said that money will be in the account the next time when they decide to purchase a new ambulance. The savings account now has a balance of $153,000.

Laura Stratman asked if a big, unexpected expense comes up, can the money be taken from the ambulance fund. Opoka said at the end of the year, if there is an excess of money, they usually put money into the ambulance fund so when they need a new one, the money is there. “There won’t be any money this year to put in there,” he added.

Stephen said they have $153,000 in the savings account right now and the taxes will begin to come in and this can be built back up.

• Opoka said they renewed the district’s license with the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (BNDD), which the district needs to carry narcotics. And, next month they will renew the district’s license with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).