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77 7� RIM <br /> 7 77 <br /> IF <br /> .>. .> <br /> x . <br /> in Able Ambulance . Another reason was the population in the county over the last several <br /> years and the increased admissions in our two hospitals . He spoke of two issues : trip <br /> numbers and the desire of facilities to have more choices and more providers . He believed <br /> the people who use the service would like to have more choice of providers . He pointed out <br /> there would be no additional cost to them or to the County by having additional providers . <br /> He presented numerous questions which he felt should be answered by both applying <br /> companies . He recommended that both All County Ambulance and ARM be granted <br /> COPCNs . <br /> <y; <br /> Gary Burdsall , President of Able Aviation Air Ambulance , Able Ambulance , Able <br /> Health Services , Able American Jets , and Able American Jet Propulsions , 420 Sopwith <br /> Drive , advised it was a difficult time for him to appear before thein . He thought it was <br /> important to stay focused on this community ' s needs . He asserted that the air ambulance <br /> business is a highly competitive business , unlike ground ambulance and ground ambulance <br /> transport which is more like a "utility " . He believed that the Commissioners should listen <br /> to the recommendations of their staff. He explained how his ground ambulance business had <br /> very serious financial problems when one of his "main competitors " further south had <br /> reported his company for fraud to First Coast Service Options , a private company which acts <br /> as the intermediary for Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Medicare to decide who gets paid and <br /> who doesn ' t . Although he had to pay back $ 280 , 000 in fees that were deemed " not <br /> medically necessary " by FCSO , no fraud was found , and a hearing in Tallahassee was of no <br /> help . The Administrative Law Judge is his next step . He operated for three months without <br /> offsetting revenue . He reported that the same thing had happened to a company in <br /> Melbourne, Florida , which after three years got its money back, plus interest, after meeting <br /> with the Administrative Law Judge . Mr . Burdsall decided to sell the assets of Able <br /> Ambulance and support the application of All County Ambulance , because they are local and <br /> October 2 , 2001 <br /> 58 <br /> a � ► 1 1 i ' t) <br /> k J <br /> J <br /> t <br />