Public Information Concerning Ambulance Services in Morrow County

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 has voted to pursue legal remedies against Morrow County and Boardman Fire Rescue District.

MCHD’s decision was not made lightly as the District has spent the past two years pursuing all possible avenues to collaborate and resolve this dispute in a manner agreeable to all parties. Ultimately, MCHD has an obligation to protect public safety and preserve healthcare services for the entire county. Based on recent local decisions, a formal legal process is now needed to resolve the situation.

MCHD will continue to provide ambulance service countywide until this dispute is legally resolved.

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

Morrow County Health District maintains that the ASA Plan approved in March of 2022 by the Oregon Health Authority is valid and in effect and that these proceedings are not occurring in a legal and ethical manner. That said, MCHD did submit testimony under protest and without waiving any of its rights to seek other legal remedies including any claims regarding this issue. MCHD submitted these documents:

10-Year Transport Graph.pdf EMS Stats - 2022 & 2023.pdf Complaint for Breach of Contract, Promissory Estoppel, Tortious Interference with Contract and Declaratory and Injunctive Relief - FILED.pdf Entry of Default and Issuance of Final Order.pdf BOC Hearing Submission Cover Letter - 05-02-23.pdf IGA Between MCHD and Morrow County - 1995.pdf ASA Plan & Appendices - OHA Approved March 24, 2022.pdf Ambulance Service Area Plan Approval Documents - 2021.pdf Timeline of Events - Public - 04-11-23.pdf History of BFRD & BOC Interactions - February 2021 to April 2023.pdf History of EMS Advisory Committee QA Problem Resolution Efforts.pdf Wenholz Ethics Complaint - 04-24-23.pdf Wipfli Memo Ambulance Reimbursement.pdf

Other interested parties have submitted this public testimony:

OAHHS - Public Testimony - 05-10-23.pdf EOCCO - Public Testimony - 05-10-23.pdf Marlowe - Public Testimony - 05-06-23.pdf Swanson - Public Testimony - 05-02-23.pdf

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

Letter to BOC re Conflict of Interest - 04-20-23.pdf Letter to BOC re Conflict of Interest - 04-17-23.pdf

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.

IGA Between MCHD and Morrow County - 1995.pdf

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.

Timeline of Events - Public - 04-11-23.pdf

Below are public communications concerning ambulance service in Morrow County.

Community Letter - Update on Ambulance Service - 05-09-23.pdf Reasons for One MC ASA - 04-12-23.pdf Reasons for One MC ASA - 04-12-23 - Spanish.pdf EMS Statement - 04-11-23.pdf EMS Statement - 04-11-23- Spanish.pdf EMS Mailer - 03-27-23.pdf Letter to BOC - 02-20-23.pdf EMS Informational Flyer - 12-09-22.pdf Open Letter to Community - 11-29-22.pdf Open Letter to Community - 11-29-22 - Spanish.pdf Open Letter to Community - 07-25-22.pdf

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

10-Year Transport Graph.pdf EMS Stats - 2022 & 2023.pdf

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:

Certification of Morrow County Ambulance Service Plan - 07-06-16.pdf Morrow County Acceptance of Mass Casualty Incident Plan - 07-06-16.pdf Morrow County Court Agenda - 07-06-16.pdf Morrow County Court Minutes - 07-06-16.pdf Morrow County Court Agenda - 06-29-16.pdf Morrow County Court Minutes - 06-29-16.pdf

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.

Entry of Default and Issuance of Final Order.pdf Letter from EMS Advisory Committee to MCHD BOD - 04-07-23.pdf Notice of Hearing - 03-20-23.pdf Notice of Hearing - 12-09-22.pdf Letter from EMS Advisory Committee to BFRD - 09-02-22.pdf Letter from EMS Advisory Committee to MCSO - 09-02-22.pdf EMS Advisory Committee Agenda - 08-31-22.pdf EMS Advisory Committee Minutes - 08-31-22.pdf Letter from EMS Advisory Committee to BFRD - 07-26-22.pdf Letter from EMS Advisory Committee to MCSO - 07-26-22.pdf EMS Advisory Committee Agenda - 07-18-22.pdf EMS Advisory Committee Minutes - 07-18-22.pdf EMS Advisory Committee Determination - 04-27-22.pdf MCHD Board Meeting Minutes - 04-25-22.pdf EMS Advisory Committee Agenda - 03-31-22.pdf EMS Advisory Committee Minutes - 03-31-22.pdf

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

MCHD Letter to BOC - 10-07-22.pdf Morrow County ASA Consultation and Discussion Agenda - 09-23-22.pdf Heckathorn - Consulting Services Agreement - 09-14-22.pdf

Sign up for updates from Morrow County Health District