11:20 PM Rickey Stokes Says ... ALL LIVES MATTER

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
[email protected]
3347901729
Date: Jul 07 2024 11:27 PM

COTTONWOOD: In late 2017 Cottonwood Ambulance and Rescue, Inc. closed it’s doors. Somewhere on or about November 6, 2017.

According to reports from the City of Dothan – Houston County Communications District, Cottonwood Ambulance and Rescue, Inc. was “dispatched” to 255 EMS calls in 2017.

“Dispatched” does not mean they actually responded. The call could have been cancelled or they were unable to respond. The records in the 911 Center indicate they were “dispatched” to that many calls.

Sometime in November 2017 is when Rickey Stokes entered the picture and took over Cottonwood Ambulance and Rescue, Inc. There might have been $ 200 or $ 300, in Cottonwood Ambulance and Rescue, Inc., but that was all. ( Working to get those records ).

On January 1, 2018, Stokes – with the help of others, Cottonwood Ambulance and Rescue, Inc. was ready to respond to calls dispatched and did respond. Rickey Stokes is not a medic but was EVOC ( Emergency Vehicle Operator Certified ) and could drive the ambulance. But crews such as EMT Alford and others were in place and worked making EMS calls.

According to the City of Dothan – Houston County Communications District Records, in 2018, Cottonwood Ambulance and Rescue, Inc. was dispatched to 575 EMS calls in the 130 square mile assigned territory.

The only funding received was $20,000.00 ( might have been up to $ 22,000.00 ) a year from Houston Couty. This was paid in quarterly installments from Houston County to Cottonwood Ambulance and Rescue, Inc. and each of the EMS units in Houston County.

YEAR 2018 – 575 Calls “dispatched” to Cottonwood Ambulance & Rescue, Inc.

YEAR 2019 – 717 Calls “dispatched” to Cottonwood Ambulance & Rescue, Inc.

YEAR 2020 – 835 Calls “dispatched” to Cottonwood Ambulance & Rescue, Inc.

Sometime in late 2019 or first of 2020, Rickey Stokes started talking to those in power and EMS units about a $ 5.00 tag fee being added for EMS. Stokes started with Dothan Fire Chief Larry Williams and Dothan City Manager Kevin Cowper. Stokes knew without the support of the City of Dothan there was no need for the attempts. With the fee just charged in the county and exclude the City of Dothan, the fee would not generate much money.

Both Dothan Fire Chief Larry Williams and Dothan City Manager Kevin Cowper supported the idea. Stokes then began talking to the Houston County Commission Chairman and local legislative delegation. Stokes did a draft of the legislation.

The idea was presented to the Houston County Commission in an Administrative Meeting sometime in February 2020. Houston County did not keep minutes of the Administrative meetings then. The item was tabled for further discussion and voted on by the Houston County Commission on March 9, 2020.

On March 5, 2020 Rickey Stokes filed with the Alabama Secretary of State and formed the Houston County EMS Association. While Rickey Stokes filed the incorporation papers, Rickey Stokes did not place himself as an officer or on the Board of Directors. While Stokes has had to sit for some of the meetings due to the representative not being available for Cottonwood Ambulance and Rescue, Inc., there has not been many meetings Rickey Stokes has been at or participated in.

On March 9, 2020 the Houston County Commission voted on the $ 5.00 tag fee legislation for EMS.

MINUTES OF HOUSTON COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING

The legislation was drafted by the Alabama Legislative Reference Service in Montgomery, advertised for four weeks and then passed by the Alabama Legislature. The legislation only authorized this to be placed on the ballot in November 2020 for the registered voters of Houston County to vote on the legislation. And the voters voted in favor of the legislation.

The $ 5.00 went into affect January 1, 2021 and was collected by the Houston County Probate Judge. In the middle of February the fees collected for January was sent by the Probate Judge to the Houston County Commission who then distributed the funds to the Houston County EMS Association.

The fee distribution was based on the calls each EMS responded to.

During the Houston County Commission Chairman Mark Culver administration, Houston County paid the five county EMS units $ 27,000.00 a year in years 2021 and 2022. Before that it was around $ 20,000.00 to $ 22,000.00 a year.

Records indicate $ 6,750.00 was distributed to the five county EMS units, being Ashford – Columbia – Cottonwood – Rehobeth and Wicksburg in quarterly installments, for a total of $ 27,000.00 a year.

PRIOR TO THE TAG FEE WHICH STARTED IN 2021, THE ONLY FUNDING EMS IN HOUSTON COUNTY RECEIVED WAS THE $ 20,000.00 TO $ 22,000.00 FROM HOUSTON COUNTY AND LATER RAISED TO $ 27,000.00, AND WHAT WAS COLLECTED ON EMS CALLS

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QUESTION TO BRANDON SHOUPE AND KEN CURTIS, WHERE DID COTTONWOOD AMBULANCE AND RESCUE, INC. GET THE MONEY TO OPERATE FROM 2018 – 2020?

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YEAR 2021 – 770 Calls “dispatched” to Cottonwood Ambulance & Rescue, Inc.

Records indicate the $ 5.00 tag fee generated $ 119,543.27 for Cottonwood Ambulance and Rescue, Inc. in year 2021. That combined with the $ 27,000.00 under Chairman Mark Culver, made a total of $ 146,543.27 to Cottonwood Ambulance and Rescue, Inc.

YEAR 2022 – 751 Calls “dispatched” to Cottonwood Ambulance & Rescue, Inc.

Records indicate the $ 5.00 tag fee generated $ 101,865.66 for Cottonwood Ambulance and Rescue, Inc. in year 2022. That combined with the $ 27,000.00 under Chairman Mark Culver made a total of $ 128,865.66 to Cottonwood Ambulance and Rescue, Inc.

Under Chairman Mark Culver there was funding to the five EMS units for LUCAS devices and some heart monitors. The COVID funding was earmarked so the Houston County Commission used those funds for other things and changed some money around without restrictions. That money also allowed the EMS to purchase some equipment to include a new ambulance.

YEAR 2023 – 776 Calls “dispatched” to Cottonwood Ambulance & Rescue, Inc.

Records indicate the $ 5.00 tag fee generated $ 99,833.92 for Cottonwood Ambulance and Rescue, Inc. in year 2023.

Chairman Mark Culver retired and Brandon Shoupe was elected Chairman of the Houston County Commission.

The amount funded by the Houston County Commission to the five EMS units in the county was reduced under Chairman Brandon Shoupe to $ 22,000.00 a year, cutting the quarterly funding from $ 6,750 a quarter to $ 5,500.00 a quarter. Under Chairman Brandon Shoupe leadership that made a total of $ 121,893.92 for Cottonwood Ambulance and Rescue, Inc.

YEAR 2024 – In January, February, through March 19, 2024, 167 Calls “dispatched” to Cottonwood Ambulance & Rescue, Inc. The Cottonwood Ambulance and Rescue, Inc. has operated from March 19, 2024 through current, and has responded to calls dispatched. Just the report I have in hand ended on March 19, 2024. Working on the funding amount and total runs so far in 2024.

Unlike some healthcare providers, where the mere provision of a service, such as an emergency department visit, administering a vaccine, filling a prescription or even a well patient check-up often warrants reimbursement, ambulance reimbursement is not so cut and dry.

In order for most ambulance transports to ultimately be paid by insurance, including commercial, Medicare or Medicaid, the transport must be considered “medically necessary”. Generally speaking this is a subjective standard, with different standard, with different definitions for different payers.

But the EMS transport can not ask the patient what kind of insurance they have or do they have insurance prior to transport.

When the tornado hit Houston County, and when preparation was being made prior to it hitting ground, discussion with the Alabama Department of Public Health over oxygen bottles was made. The Alabama Department of Public Health stated the patient should contact their provider for oxygen. AGREED. But reality is, they do not. And the Alabama Department of Public Health said transport the patient to the emergency room. And Rickey Stokes went, WHAT??? You want a ambulance on the road, the emergency department overloaded, during a tornado, when all the patient needs is another oxygen bottle? And EMS would not have been paid for that transport.

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QUESTION TO BRANDON SHOUPE AND KEN CURTIS, WHERE DID COTTONWOOD AMBULANCE AND RESCUE, INC. GET THE MONEY TO OPERATE FROM 2018 – 2020?

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It takes two people to be on a ambulance. If each person was paid $ 10.00 per hour, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 52 weeks per year, that would require $ 14,560.00 per month, or $ 174,720.00 per year. And people DO NOT volunteer and employers DO NOT let their people off anymore to respond to emergencies.

YEAR 2021 a negative of $ - 28,176.73 to provide trained and licensed manpower only.

YEAR 2022 a negative of $ - 49,854.34 to provide trained and licensed manpower only.

YEAR 2023 a negative of $ - 52,826.08 to provide trained and licensed manpower only.

This does not include insurance costs, estimated around $ 14,000.00 a year, fuel costs, electricity costs, supply costs, purchase of equipment, and on and on.

The Alabama Association of County Commissioners, YOUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, got legislation passed by the Alabama Legislature, the County Commission IS NOT RESPONSIBLE to provide EMS coverage in the county.

Which means, YOUR COUNTY COMMISSION position is, if you live in the county, your life means absolutely nothing to the County Commissioners.

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COTTONWOOD AMBULANCE AND RESCUE, INC. HAS BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE EMS COVERAGE TO THE 130 SQUARE MILES OF ASSIGNED TERRITORY SINCE 2018 BECAUSE RICKEY STOKES ALLOWED THE BUSINESSES HE IS INVOLVED WITH TO PUT MONEY INTO COTTONWOOD AMBULANCE AND RESCUE, INC. TO SUPPORT IT TO ALLOW EMS TO RESPOND WHEN YOU DIALED 911.

NOT AS AN INTEREST LOAN, NOT AS A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION, BUT MERELY BECAUSE TO RICKEY STOKES ...

ALL LIVES MATTER

HOUSTON COUNTY EMS ASSOCIATION

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