Hollister - Although a contract dispute between Hazel Hawkins Hospital and Calstar could mean the air ambulance services stops landing at the hospital, officials hope to resolve their differences and come up with a solution to the problem.
Hazel Hawkins Chief Executive Office Ken Underwood said he plans to contact Calstar's CEO Joe Cook this week and begin working toward a solution to the dispute.
Problems arose when Underwood asked Calstar to give a hospital employee a discount for being transported to an area hospital.
Calstar - which services about 75 percent of Hazel Hawkins' patients who require air transport - refused, saying the nonprofit organization can't afford it. Underwood then said he would instate a $500 landing fee in the future if Calstar doesn't start giving some type of discount.
Hazel Hawkins also utilizes Stanford Life Flight, which Underwood said contracts with major insurance companies so the total flight price is lower than Calstar's. Underwood said Life Flight charges around $12,000, while Calstar's bills are more than $17,000.
"Hopefully something can be worked out with them," Underwood said, who added that instating a landing fee isn't set in stone if their differences aren't resolved. "We'll see, I'll talk to my board."
Cook said he has yet to hear from Underwood, but said he hopes things go back to business as usual so the helicopters can continue landing at Hazel Hawkins. Cook said if a fee is instated, Calstar would continue servicing county residents but would have to land somewhere else, such as the airport.
Hollister resident Bob Lintner said he utilized both Calstar and Life Flight last year when his wife had two heart attacks, and echoed Underwood's price estimates of the air ambulances' charges.
"I thought they were both absolutely excellent," he said. "But my concern with Calstar is the outrageous pricing compared with Stanford."
Lintner said his insurance company, Aetna, paid all of Life Flight's $12,000 charge, however he was stuck paying $4,000 from Calstar's bill because it doesn't contract with any insurance companies.
"I called Calstar and pleaded poor and they were very adamant, 'You will pay or we will turn you over to collections,'" he said.
Lintner paid, however he then learned of a membership plan Calstar offers that allows patients to be transported for free if they pay an annual fee that ranges between $40 to $45, according to Calstar's regional manager.
"I would rather have Calstar," he said. "If I have to use it again I won't be charged because I have the (membership) plan."
POST A COMMENT
If you are under 13 years of age you may read this message board, but you may not participate.
Here are the full legal terms you agree to by using this comment form.
The Score: Baler football and boys and girls water polo
