Staff Report

ROCHESTER — A special joint meeting of the Fulton County Commissioners and Fulton County Council will be held tonight, March 13, to discuss the county’s EMS provider.

It’s at 5:30 p.m. in the Fulton County Government Building, 125 E. Ninth St., Rochester. Leaders are discuss bringing in a new ambulance provider for the county.

Lutheran announced Tuesday, March 12, it withdrew its bid for providing ambulance service in the county.

A press release from Lutheran stated the following:

“Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital has begun a transition of  current ambulance service operations in Fulton County. The county’s commissioners were notified this morning that Kosciusko Ambulance Service, LLC d/b/a Lutheran EMS, will not be renewing its contract to provide emergency ambulance services.

“Lutheran EMS was one of several bidders in a Request for Proposal process during 2023 and was ultimately awarded the bid to provide emergency ambulance services.  Following the county’s decision, our organization determined a need to focus these resources on continuing to enhance and expand the facility-based healthcare we provide in this region. As such, we withdrew our proposal and asked that the county move forward with its alternate option for a services provider.

“We know that Fulton County will be in very good hands with the anticipated alternate ambulance service provider,” said LKH CEO Lynn Mergen.” Our goal is to avoid any gap in high quality emergency coverage for this community, and we will work closely with both the county and an alternate provider to support their go-forward plan.”