 - The Fremont County Commission is working on a new partnership with Cody Regional Health to provide emergency medical services locally beginning later this year.){kind=link}
Editor’s Note: Representatives from Cody Regional Health have shared the following statement in response to the Commission’s discussion about the proposed partnership at Tuesday’s meeting:
“Cody Regional Health in Park County was approached by the Fremont County Commissioners the second week of September asking for assistance with their EMS system. We have received their request and are diligently evaluating the financial and operational feasibility of providing the services needed. No commitments have been made. As a healthcare organization we are sensitive to the situation in Fremont County and are working to respond to the request as soon as possible.”
(Lander, WY) – The Fremont County Commission is working on a new partnership with Cody Regional Health to provide emergency medical services locally beginning later this year.
Following an executive session Tuesday, the Commission voted to send a letter of intent to Cody Regional outlining the “preliminary terms and conditions under which Fremont County intends to enter into an agreement” with the organization for the administration of EMS services.
Those terms include a time period during which Cody Regional would administer EMS services in Fremont County – Dec. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2027 – after which “the parties may agree to continue as partners,” Commissioner Mike Jones said, reading from the letter.
The dates are “tentative,” Jones noted, explaining that the county is still negotiating with Priority Ambulance “for their departure.”
Later, Jones also emphasized that the letter of intent is meant “solely as a statement of the parties’ current intentions and (does) not to create legally binding obligations.”
“No other obligations will be imposed on either party unless (or) until a definitive agreement is executed,” he said.
The terms outlined in the letter include:
- Fremont County will provide ambulances and related facilities for Cody Regional’s use during the term of the contract.
- Fremont County will immediately gather and share asset and usage data with Cody Regional.
- Cody Regional will give hiring consideration to employees of Fremont County’s current EMS contractor but will retain discretion as to whether to hire any of those employees. It is anticipated that no new employees will be hired before Dec. 1, 2026.
- Cody Regional will be empowered to enter into agreements with insurance and healthcare providers and will be responsible for billing collection for services rendered.
- Cody Regional agrees to share costs and revenue data with Fremont County during the term of the agreement.
- It is anticipated that Fremont County will pay a subsidy during the term of the agreement, but Cody Regional will make its best effort to increase revenues with a goal of reducing the subsidy.
- Cody Regional agrees to reduce or refund the subsidy paid for the term of this agreement if revenues exceed its initial projections and its anticipated margin is exceeded
The Commissioners voted Tuesday to authorize Chairman Larry Allen to sign the letter.
They also authorized Allen, Jones, and Deputy County Attorney Nathan Maxon to enter into negotiations to finalize the county’s agreement with Priority Ambulance.