AIR EVAC HELICOPTER BASE IN LA GRANGE CLOSES

  

The Air Evac Lifeteam emergency medical helicopter base in La Grange has permanently closed.

In a statement issued last week, the Air Evac Lifeteam announced the immediate closure of the base, pointing to “low utilization of the service and decreasing reimbursement.”

The base opened in 1998 and served patients within a 150-mile radius.  It was stationed next to St. Mark’s Medical Center in La Grange, which recently applied for and received federal approval for Rural Emergency Hospital designation. 

As part of the transition, St. Mark’s will receive additional Medicare reimbursement, but the hospital was forced to cut nearly half of its staff and limit its offerings to 24/7 emergency medical services, patient observation and select outpatient services.

Air Evac did not cite the hospital in its statement.

The Air Evac membership program under AirMedCare Network paid the helicopter transport costs for members experiencing an emergency.  In the statement, Air Evac said AirMedCare Network will make prorated refunds available to members in Austin, Bastrop, Brazos, Colorado, Fayette, Gonzales, Lavaca, Lee, Victoria, Washington and Wharton counties. 

Fayette County EMS Director Josh Vandever told the Fayette County Record that there are several other helicopter transport options around the area that the agency could potentially use, saying it will likely utilize PHI Air Medical’s bases in Columbus and Cedar Creek.  He also mentioned Washington County EMS and Starflight from Austin as possible alternatives to request assistance from.