Med Express back on jury agenda

Published 12:00 am Sunday, September 24, 2000

VIDALIA, La. – An occupational license for ambulance service Med Express will once again be considered by the Concordia Parish Police Jury during its Monday night meeting.

During the jury’s Sept. 11 meeting, Juror Rodney Smith promised to bring the license back up for approval during this Monday’s meeting.

At the jury’s July 24 meeting, almost one year after the ambulance provider withdrew from Concordia Parish, company officials said Med Express intended to resume operating in Concordia parish in early August.

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But the jury voted Aug. 14 to delay voting on Med Express’ license until the jury received an attorney general’s opinion on whether it could grant a license to a company suing a subdivision of parish government.

Med Express filed suit against Riverland Medical Center Aug. 20 in Seventh Judicial District Court, charging that the hospital owed the company $40,087 for transporting non-insured patients in cases Medicare and Medicaid would not cover.

Juror Gene Allen brought the matter up again at Monday’s jury meeting, saying the jury doesn’t need &uot;to present false hopes … to keep delaying people.&uot; But the jury took no action on the permit during that meeting.

Shannon Pennington, public relations director for Med Express, said he plans to attend Monday’s meeting. &uot;We look forward to doing business in Concordia Parish,&uot; he said.

Even if Med Express gets its occupational license, the Concordia Parish 911 Communications Board will have to vote on adding Med Express to the parish’s 911 rotation.