By Mitch Hotts
The Macomb Daily
RICHMOND, Mich. 鈥� Richmond Lenox EMS is asking Macomb and St. Clair county leaders to contact state lawmakers and have them appropriate funds to pay unpaid bills from the former medical insurance provider for the state prison in northern Macomb County.
Richmond Lenox, which provides EMS/ambulance services to the Michigan Correctional Facility in Lenox Township, said the Michigan Department of Corrections鈥� former healthcare provider has failed to pay its bills for the past two years for services to the prison.
The former health care provider, Wellpath, owes the agency about $134,000, or about 5% of its operation budget, said Richmond Lenox EMS Chief Jeff White.
He commented if the agency doesn鈥檛 receive reimbursement, it will be forced to ask local taxpayers to pick up the expenses.
鈥淥ur communities already pay taxes to fund us, we may have to ask for additional money,鈥� White said. 鈥淥ur hope is the state will recognize the error that occurred and resolve it, so we don鈥檛 have to back to our taxpayers.鈥�
Richmond Lenox provides services for 10 communities including Lenox Township, Memphis, New Haven, Ray Township Richmond city and township, all in Macomb County. From St. Clair County, the agency serves St. Clair, Casco, Columbus, Riley and Wales townships.
It is one of several EMS providers who are owed more than $6 million in overdue health care bills from the State of Michigan after the Michigan Department of Corrections鈥� former health care provider failed to the agencies for their services for two years, according to Michigan Association of Ambulance Services (MAAS).
The companies provided services to inmates in 2023-24 in partnership with Nashville-based Wellpath, but have not received payments for their treatment to patients. Wellpath鈥檚 contract with the State of Michigan ended in April and state EMS agencies have not been reimbursed.
鈥淢ichigan EMS providers deliver essential healthcare services to all residents in need, including those in Michigan prisons,鈥� MAAS executive director Angela Madden said in a news release. " Wellpath鈥檚 actions have caused financial hardship for several Michigan EMS agencies, making it more difficult to pay for staffing and operations that are essential to our communities.鈥�
Wellpath officials could not be immediately reached for comment this week.
Jenni Riehle, a spokesperson for the MDOC, confirmed in an email to the Macomb Daily Wellpath does owe payments to subcontractors.
During 2023 and 2024, Wellpath required the assistance of at least 15 EMS providers and did not reimburse them for their work, MAAS officials said. The MDOC has since replaced Wellpath as its healthcare provider.
State law requires the EMS agencies to provide their services without knowing if they will be paid, White said.
鈥淭he real issue is we can鈥檛 function without that money,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e have to pay salaries, buy tires for our trucks, refill medical supplies and equipment. The way the EMS system works is state prisons are obligated to take care of their prisoners. We did that. Now we are asking to be reimbursed.鈥�
After Wellpath informed EMS agencies of their inability to pay, many agencies began asking state legislators to reimburse the impacted agencies through a supplemental budget bill.
Michigan is home to nearly 30,000 EMS providers, 800 life support agencies and 4,000 licensed life support vehicles, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Division of EMS and Trauma within the Bureau of Emergency Preparedness , EMS and Systems of Care.
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