IMPORTANT UPDATES:

Important announcement concerning the changeover in ambulance service:

Public Announcement - 3-1-24

In an effort to provide clarity to Morrow County residents about what to expect after March 12, 2024, we have released the following letters to the public and to the Morrow County Commissioners.

Letter to Morrow County - 2-29-24

Letter to Community - 2-29-24

Following a meeting of the MCHD Board of Directors on February 26, 2024, we have release this important public announcement:

Public Announcement - 2-27-24

After March 12, 2024, Morrow County Health District will provide, to the best of our ability, a safety net to residents by responding as needed with Quick Response Teams and/or backup ambulances when the provider selected by the County is unable to respond timely.  MCHD will continue to employ four full-time EMS personnel and all occasional part-time EMS personnel (approximately 60 people).  We will maintain all ambulances and increase the number of QRTs supported in each community.  It is our hope that when the County formally reviews the ambulance service proposals, MCHD will be selected to serve the entire county under a 5-year agreement. 

Ambulance Service Update - 2-14-24

Legal Opinion - 2-7-24

Previous Updates:

Public Announcement - 2-5-24

Public Announcement - 2-2-24

On January 30, 2024, MCHD provided a draft ambulance service contract to Morrow County, which can be viewed here:

Ambulance Service Contract

Public Announcement - 1-30-24

Public Information - 1-18-24

Public Information - 1-17-24

On January 9, 2024, Morrow County sent another draft ASA Plan and Ordinance to MCHD for feedback.  MCHD has provided comments, which are visible by hovering over the highlighted areas of the documents:

ASA Plan Draft

Ordinance Draft

Last week, Morrow County requested that MCHD extend our notice to vacate the ambulance service area. Our Board of Directors has unanimously voted not to extend the notice and the District has issued the following letter to explain the reasoning behind this difficult decision. We strongly believe there is sufficient time to resolve this situation with the County if they are so inclined.  

Letter to Public

Formal Response

County Request

 Espanol - Letter to Public

On December 13, 2023, the Morrow County Health District issued a 90-day notice to vacate the ambulance service area.  Our reasons for this decision are outlined in this document.  It is our sincere hope that we can reach a reasonable agreement with Morrow County during the notice period so that we can continue to provide ambulance services.

Espanol - Public Notice

Espanol - 90-Day Notice

In April of 2023, Morrow County determined that the 2021 ASA Plan (approved by previous Commissioners) was invalid and that the county would revert to operating under the 1998 Ordinance and ASA Plan.  
The 1998 Ordinance and ASA Plan spell out a process for updating the ASA Plan and selecting service providers.  MCHD respectfully asks Morrow County to follow the processes outlined in the 1998 Ordinance and ASA Plan.

Summary of 1998 Ordinance & Plan

1998 Ordinance & ASA Plan

These are the documents that were submitted to the Oregon Health Authority by Morrow County:

ASA Plan

ASA Ordinance

ASA Map

In September of 2023, MCHD issued this public statement due to ongoing safety concerns:

EMS Public Statement - 09-11-23

Espanol - EMS Public Statement - 09-11-23

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On April 5, 2023, the Morrow County Board of Commissioners declared that the Ambulance Service Area Plan approved by the Oregon Health Authority on March 24, 2022 is not in effect.  Due to the imminent risk of irreparable harm to residents of Morrow County posed by this decision, the Morrow County Health District Board of Directors voted to pursue legal remedies against Morrow County and Boardman Fire Rescue District.

Morrow County ​held four public hearings on their plans to re-write the Morrow County Ambulance Service Area Plan.  Audio recordings are available here: https://www.co.morrow.or.us/meetings

MCHD submitted these documents:

Other interested parties have submitted this public testimony:

MCHD has submitted two letters to the BOC expressing concerns about a conflict of interest on the part of Commissioner Wenholz:

This Intergovernmental Agreement between Morrow County Health District and Morrow County contains documentation showing that the people of Morrow County and Morrow County itself selected Morrow County Health District to provide ambulance service for the entire county. 

This timeline of events, which will be periodically updated, was put together to help explain the steps Morrow County Health District has taken over the past three years to preserve ambulance service in Morrow County.

Below are public communications concerning ambulance service in Morrow County.

Here's a look at the ambulance service data in Morrow County:

In the interest of transparency, Morrow County Health District is collecting and publishing documents related to current and past Ambulance Service Area Plans and approvals here.  

2021:

2016:

These documents show efforts by the Morrow County EMS Advisory Committee and Morrow County Health District Board of Directors to work through the Quality Assurance Problem Resolution process outlined in the ASA Plan to resolve the ambulance service dispute.

Below are publicly available documents concerning mediation efforts to resolve the ambulance service dispute.