Air ambulance service closes 4 Oklahoma bases

Air Methods Corp. has closed four medical helicopter bases in Oklahoma because of financial pressures, officials confirmed Monday. Following an analysis of operations, officials with the Colorado-based company made the decision to close the MediFlight bases in Chickasha, Seminole, Keefeton and the base at Riverside Airport in south Tulsa. “In many cases, we are the only link between hospitals for patients who need more intensive care, which is a responsibility we take very seriously as we make these decisions,” officials said in a statement. Employees at the four bases were told Sunday. The closure affected about 12 to 15 employees per base, said Doug Flanders, communications director. “We will work with all employees on opportunities for other positions within Air Methods or their next career steps,” Flanders said. According to the company website there are “more than 300 bases of operations serving 48 states.” Air Methods will continue to serve the affected coverage areas, but only for neonatal trips in the Chickasha/Grady County area. Other patients will need to use other medical flight providers in that area. Tulsa Life Flight 5 in McAlester will provide coverage for the Seminole region and the area previously served from Keefeton in Muskogee County. Tulsa Life Flight 2 in Pryor will take over flights in the south Tulsa region. The same dispatch numbers — 800-522-0212 for MediFlight and 800-8061891 for Tulsa Life Flight — will continue to be used. The company reports around-the-clock readiness costs nearly $3 million per year for each base. Reimbursement for services has not kept up with costs. “We transport every patient who needs our services, regardless of their ability to pay,” officials said in the statement. “Medicaid in Oklahoma pays just over $4,500 per patient transport with Medicare covering around $6,000, and self-pay/uninsured paying just under $500.” Those three categories account for 75 percent of transports but only 30 percent of costs, the company said. Air ambulance patients with private insurance have to cover the remaining costs. “This business environment is not sustainable and puts emergency transport access at risk,” according to the statement.