Sioux Falls, SD (KELO AM) - Recent allegations against ambulance service provider Paramedics Plus should have no impact on the company's operations in Sioux Falls. That's the word from Sioux Falls City Councilor Pat Starr on Wednesday, after news broke that Paramedics Plus is accused of paying out over $20 million under the table in Texas.
Starr said he heard of the allegations from a friend in Texas, and immediately made calls to find out of the same problem could be happening in Sioux Falls. "We don't have that type of an agreement in Sioux Falls, and it was never considered," Starr told KELO Radio News. He went on to emphasize that at this time, Paramedics Plus has not been found guilty and that local management does not believe there will be a long-term issue stemming from the suit.
According to the Tyler (TX) Morning Telegraph, the company is accused of creating a $20 million slush fund with the East Texas Medical Center, then funneling that money to an Oklahoma based company in the form of bribes and kickbacks.
While Starr says his investigating didn't turn up any problems, he called it part of the Council's "due diligence, asking those questions. We received an immediate response from our health department, the people who administer the contract, and our local representatives from Paramedics Plus."
Starr went on to add that the situation is another example of why the city needs to invest more in open government laws. "This is a perfect example of another one of the boards in an advisory role. We need to have access to those meetings." He added that having a record of negotiations would allow the city to review how the contract was negotiated to see if there are any similarities between Sioux Falls' situation and the one in Texas.
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The Regional Emergency Medical Services Authority, or REMSA, has recently come under fire for not having their meetings recorded for public record. Several on the council, including Starr, would like to see that changed.