BY ANDY GARDNER
North Country This Week

MASSENA -- The Massena Rescue Squad will seek another paid emergency medical technician (EMT), and their rates have gone up.

At the Wednesday, Sept. 18 Town Council meeting, Councilor Melanie Cunningham noted the rescue squad hasn't had a rate increase since 2015.

"This has been researched through our billing company ... our fees are not as high as other places. We've done our best to keep them low," said Councilor Tom Miller. "For the ever-changing cost of providing this service, it's a necessity."

Cunningham and Miller are the council's liaisons to the rescue squad board.

The new fees are: basic life support, $750 to $800; advanced life support, $1,050 to $1,150; advanced life support 2, $1,350; mileage $25 to $27 per mile; light rescue, $404; heavy rescue $633 to $650; technical rescue is to be itemized; treat and release, $400; response fee, $150.

This is billed to the patient's insurance company. If the patient is uninsured, the rescue squad generates a bill but generally does not aggressively pursue the debtor.

Meanwhile, Miller said the rescue squad has seen a significant uptick in calls and they need a new E5 EMT. He said the calls are mostly during the day shift from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. With their current staffing levels, they would benefit from having a second E5 in case they need to dispatch another ambulance.

He said for a trial run from Oct. 1 to the end of the year, it will cost the town $24,597 to cover those 12 hours per day seven days per week.

"With work schedules, there's difficulties getting a second rig out of the barn … trouble getting drivers to drive the rigs with volunteers," Miller said.

"We met with everybody on the staff to hear their opinions and thoughts on it and they agree," Cunningham said.

Miller said they have trouble finding mutual aid from surrounding areas when needed because fewer people are volunteering with fire and rescue squads.

"And that's across the state ... volunteerism is down," Cunningham said.