Would-be buyer vows to ‘meet or exceed’ ambulance service

Norwich — The plan by Hartford HealthCare to purchase American Ambulance is being termed a “stock sale,” with American Ambulance agreeing to sell 100% of its stock to the health care institution, according to the letter of intent filed with the state Department of Public Health.

Hartford HealthCare and American Ambulance Service Inc. issued a joint statement Jan. 16 confirming the two parties had an agreement calling for Hartford Healthcare to purchase the Norwich ambulance company and American Professional Educational Services, founded in 1972 by prominent Norwich businessman Ronald Aliano.

In a Jan. 20 letter to Raffaella Calciano, director of the Office of Emergency Medical Services at the state Department of Public Health, Hartford HealthCare officials wrote that operations of the ambulance company should remain the same.

“Since this is a stock sale, American Ambulance as a legal entity will remain the same,” the letter stated, “with its same tax ID, same DPH authorization and provider contracts. Additionally, the operations of the organization and performance as the (Primary Service Area Responder) in the communities will continue uninterrupted as has been done in the past.”

The DPH Intent to Purchase application filed by Hartford HealthCare and American Ambulance includes a list of 29 ambulances, three non-transport emergency vehicles and 17 invalid coach vehicles.

No mention was made of the building at One American Way that houses the ambulance company and education service. Mayor Peter Nystrom said previously that the deal would call for Hartford HealthCare to lease the building from the current owner, American Group Realty LLC.

Along with the letter of intent, all local municipalities within American Ambulance service area are required to file forms of “attestation” that contains a statement that Hartford HealthCare “shall meet or exceed the performance standards to which the American Ambulance Services Inc., emergency medical service organization was obligated pursuant to its agreement with the municipality.”

Norwich City Manager John Salomone signed the attestation document Jan. 30. American Ambulance has long been Norwich’s contracted ambulance service. The 10-year contract runs through Nov. 3, 2024, with a payment of $89,330 for the year running from Nov. 4, 2022, through Nov. 4, 2023, and a payment in the final year of $92,635, covering Nov. 4, 2023, through Nov. 3, 2024.

“It is mutually agreed between the parties that the covenants and agreements herein contained shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and to their respective successors and assigns, the contract states.

The town of Preston does not have a contract with American Ambulance as the primary service provider, but American responds to mutual aid calls in the town. First Selectwoman Sandra Allyn-Gauthier also sent an attestation statement to DPH Jan. 31.

Hartford Healthcare released a statement Friday which read, “We filed an application for a change of ownership with the state’s Office of Emergency Medical Services. We expect this process to take several months. Once approved, we look forward to working with the exceptional team at American Ambulance.”