JACKSON – Municipal officials have voted to continue relying on the services of Quality Medical Transport for at least another year.
The Township Council recently passed a resolution that extended an initial contract from 2013 for at least one more year.
Since 2008, Jackson has used Quality Medical Transport, Bayville, to transport individuals in need of medical attention to hospitals.
In 2013, the council awarded a two-year contract to the company after going through an open bidding process.
At that time, Quality Medical Transport was one of five companies to respond to a request for bids. Officials said the company’s offer was the most advantageous bid for the municipality.
“Since Quality Medical Transport started [working with us] seven years ago, they have exceeded expectations,” Councilman Scott Martin said. “They have become a very big part of the Jackson community and we are thrilled with the service they have provided our residents.”
Business Administrator Helene Schlegel said the contract extension contains no changes to the existing terms of the agreement between the two parties.
The agreement will run from Aug. 13, 2015 to Aug. 12, 2016. Next summer the council will have the option to renew the contract for two additional one-year terms.
According to the contract, Quality Medical Transport will continue to provide three ambulances to cover Jackson — a 104- square-mile municipality — from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. The company will continue to provide its services at no cost to taxpayers.
Customers of the emergency service pay an amount that may be due to Quality Medical Transport through insurance.
By law, residents using the service would still have to pay their deductible for the ambulance service. If an individual has no insurance, the company receives no money.
The agreement also calls for Quality Medical Transport to include its own thirdparty billing and an assurance that the response time to a call for assistance be under nine minutes at least 90 percent of the time.