EMSA to Consider Investigative Audit
May 16-- An EMSA committee plans to recommend that an investigative audit be conducted of the agency's billing and collections practices, spending on travel and capital items, board governance and possible conflicts of interest involving contractors.
The three-member committee of EMSA board members met Tuesday to discuss the scope of a possible audit. The committee's recommendation will be considered by the full board at its next meeting, May 23.
Committee members were Clay Bird, the city of Tulsa's economic development director; Ed Shadid, a physician and Oklahoma City city councilor; and Larry Stevens, Edmond's city manager.
The committee recommended that EMSA seek an investigative audit. In addition to the area of board governance, billing and collections practices, and possible conflicts of interest or personal financial benefits involving EMSA employees and contractors, the audit would also seek to assess spending and whether purchases were economical and served a public purpose.
The Emergency Medical Services Authority is a government agency that coordinates ambulance service for more than 1.1 million people statewide. Residents of Tulsa, Oklahoma City and many surrounding cities pay a monthly fee designed to provide emergency service at no out-of-pocket cost.
Discussion of an audit follows an investigation by the Tulsa World that uncovered lavish spending on travel and capital items, possible conflicts of interest involving contractors, erroneous billing and widespread confusion among residents who are members of the city's TotalCare utility fee program.
Records show that EMSA spent public funds on items including a $999 Christmas tree, a $3,200 charcoal grill, numerous office chairs costing more than $1,000 each and a $9,000 area rug. Millions of dollars have been spent on remodeling projects, a landscaped park and a parking lot with decorative brick archways.
The agency also paid $3,000 to throw a catered retirement party for an executive who continued working as a consultant.
CEO Steve Williamson flew only first class on business trips, based on a doctor's note citing medical reasons. An EMSA contractor, Paramedics Plus, paid for $25,000 in expenses for Williamson's travel as head of the American Ambulance Association.
Bird brought a draft form seeking proposals from CPA firms for an investigative audit. He said the option of having the state auditor or a private firm conduct the audit should be left to EMSA's board.
However, Shadid said the form likely would exclude the State Auditor and Inspector's Office. Shadid said after discussions he has had with the Oklahoma City city auditor, he believes that the audit should also seek to make policy recommendations.
"Ultimately, you want to know what's the scope of the erroneous billing, how did it happen and what policy changes should there be?" he said.
Bird agreed but noted that the city of Tulsa's Management Review Office is reviewing EMSA's billing and collections and will have a report by the end of June.
"We know that there has been some erroneous billing, though I don't think it's extensive, and that's what the MRO (Management Review Office) will be trying to figure out."
Records show that EMSA sued 124 people who lived at addresses listed as included in the city's TotalCare utility fee program. EMSA has dismissed several lawsuits it filed against members of the program. In at least one case, the agency cited "clerical error" in filing a suit against a Jenks woman whose paychecks were garnisheed.
EMSA has since redesigned the bills it sends to patients, including information about the TotalCare program and informing patients if they are members of the program.
Ziva Branstetter 918-581-8306
ziva.branstetter@tulsaworld.com
Copyright 2012 - Tulsa World, Okla.
