GoldStar pulling out of Galveston County

June 16, 2005

By TJ Aulds

The Daily News

Published June 16, 2005

Less than two years after signing on to provide

ambulance services for most of the mainland, GoldStar

EMS is pulling out.

Company officials confirmed the imminent pullout

following a meeting with employees Wednesday. Human

resource director Patty Dinkle said the pullout would

take place “sometime in the next 14 days.”

The Beaumont-based company announced it was seeking

reorganization bankruptcy protection in late April.

The emergency medical provider is also under review by

the U.S. Department of Justice over the Medicare

billing practices of its Corpus Christi-area

operations.

Mike Sztary, director of operations for the

Houston-Galveston region, said that the company

employs 34 people in Galveston County.

GoldStar is under contract to provide EMS service for

Texas City, La Marque, Dickinson, San Leon, Tiki

Island, Bacliff and Hitchcock.

The loss of GoldStar EMS means the mainland

communities are looking for the third ambulance

service within two years. GoldStar took over in the

fall of 2003 after Rural Metro pulled out of contract

talks.

That instability of service from private companies has

local emergency officials considering alternatives,

which may include folding an EMS service under area

fire departments.

“That’s one of the options that would be on the table

at some point I am sure,” said Texas City Fire Chief

Gerald Grimm, who oversees emergency services

operations for the city. “Right now our priority is

making sure service goes uninterrupted.”

Dickinson public safety director Kiplinger said

he thought developing a public EMS service would be a

topic for discussion.

Grimm said he was fearful that GoldStar would actually

shut its doors as soon as Friday, which is payday for

its crews.

“When I asked for a timetable, (Dinkle) was

uncommitted to anything beyond saying it would be

within those 14 days,” said Grimm. “We have a loosely

woven contingency plan that has been in place (for

about 13 years) that we will have at the ready.”

That plan, said Grimm, includes the use of a rescue

truck from the Texas City fire department that can

double as a transport ambulance. If there were a need

for additional units, the cities under contract with

GoldStar would have the ability to “commandeer”

GoldStar units “at a market lease rate,” said Grimm.

The plan also would call for Santa Fe, which has its

own EMS service, to assist on calls in the western

portion of the county. League City, which also has a

volunteer EMS service, would assist in the northern

portions of the county that GoldStar was responsible

for servicing.

While Texas City has a full-time fire department where

all its personnel are certified “in some capacity” as

emergency medical technicians, the surrounding

communities do not. Dickinson, La Marque, Hitchcock

and the San Leon area communities are protected by

volunteer services.

Kiplinger said his city also was ready with a backup

plan.

Its immediate plan calls for them to borrow an

ambulance from another jurisdiction and temporarily

hire paramedics to run it, he said. This immediate

plan will be replaced by a mid-term plan in about

three days, he said.

“There will not be any lapse in service. There won’t

be a five-minute or 10-minute period when there’s not

any ambulance rolling,” said Kiplinger.

Officials from the various communities affected by

GoldStar’s pullout are scheduled to meet Friday to

discuss short-term as well as long-term options.

+++

GoldStar EMS Timeline

November 2003 — Rural Metro announces it will not

renegotiate EMS contracts for mainland communities in

Galveston County.

December 2003 — GoldStar EMS wins contract to provide

ambulance services for the bulk of the mainland.

April 7, 2005 — U.S. Department of Justice subpoenas

GoldStar records in Corpus Christi as part of an

investigation into the company’s Medicare billing

practices.

April 27, 2005 — GoldStar announces it has filed for

Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

June 14, 2005 — GoldStar announces it is pulling out

of Galveston County “within the next 14 days.”

Save Mail Print Comment

__________________________________________________

June 17, 2005

In a message dated 6/17/2005 11:28:49 A.M. Central Daylight Time,

ExLngHrn@... writes:

Folks -- NOW can we agree that 911 EMS response needs to be a government

function? (fire department, hospital district, or third-service provider)

Some of us might most of us won't take the time to think about the question

or care and for the most part the idea that " WE " agree on anything is

actually kind of funny.

I'm in a bit of a mood today B-Day's do that to me ;(

Louis N. Molino, Sr., CET

FF/NREMT-B/FSI/EMSI

LNMolino@...

(IFW Office)

(Cell Phone)

(IFW Fax)

" A Texan with a Jersey Attitude "

The comments contained in this E-mail are the opinions of the author and the

author alone. I in no way ever intend to speak for any person or

organization that I am in any way whatsoever involved or associated with unless

I

specifically state that I am doing so. Further this E-mail is intended only for

its

stated recipient and may contain private and or confidential materials

retransmission is strictly prohibited unless placed in the public domain by the

original author.

June 17, 2005

In a message dated 6/17/2005 11:28:49 A.M. Central Daylight Time,

ExLngHrn@... writes:

Folks -- NOW can we agree that 911 EMS response needs to be a government

function? (fire department, hospital district, or third-service provider)

Some of us might most of us won't take the time to think about the question

or care and for the most part the idea that " WE " agree on anything is

actually kind of funny.

I'm in a bit of a mood today B-Day's do that to me ;(

Louis N. Molino, Sr., CET

FF/NREMT-B/FSI/EMSI

LNMolino@...

(IFW Office)

(Cell Phone)

(IFW Fax)

" A Texan with a Jersey Attitude "

The comments contained in this E-mail are the opinions of the author and the

author alone. I in no way ever intend to speak for any person or

organization that I am in any way whatsoever involved or associated with unless

I

specifically state that I am doing so. Further this E-mail is intended only for

its

stated recipient and may contain private and or confidential materials

retransmission is strictly prohibited unless placed in the public domain by the

original author.

June 17, 2005

Sounds like Goldstar hired the old Laidlaw/AMR hachet men Bobby

Knowles,Ron Meyer and Jeff McCullum or maybe they need to!!!! They

got AMR back to a point where Laidlaw sold them for a great profit...

It all seems Dejavu of AMR in Port Arthur 7-8 years ago!!! Good luck

to the poor employees..

In , larry <larry_phillips28@y...>

wrote:

> Goldstar is pulling out of Brownwood tomorrow morning @ 9 am.

>

> Will M <will980_2000@y...> wrote:

>

> GoldStar pulling out of Galveston County

> By TJ Aulds

> The Daily News

>

> Published June 16, 2005

> Less than two years after signing on to provide

> ambulance services for most of the mainland, GoldStar

> EMS is pulling out.

>

> Company officials confirmed the imminent pullout

> following a meeting with employees Wednesday. Human

> resource director Patty Dinkle said the pullout would

> take place " sometime in the next 14 days. "

>

> The Beaumont-based company announced it was seeking

> reorganization bankruptcy protection in late April.

> The emergency medical provider is also under review by

> the U.S. Department of Justice over the Medicare

> billing practices of its Corpus Christi-area

> operations.

>

> Mike Sztary, director of operations for the

> Houston-Galveston region, said that the company

> employs 34 people in Galveston County.

>

> GoldStar is under contract to provide EMS service for

> Texas City, La Marque, Dickinson, San Leon, Tiki

> Island, Bacliff and Hitchcock.

>

> The loss of GoldStar EMS means the mainland

> communities are looking for the third ambulance

> service within two years. GoldStar took over in the

> fall of 2003 after Rural Metro pulled out of contract

> talks.

>

> That instability of service from private companies has

> local emergency officials considering alternatives,

> which may include folding an EMS service under area

> fire departments.

>

> " That's one of the options that would be on the table

> at some point I am sure, " said Texas City Fire Chief

> Gerald Grimm, who oversees emergency services

> operations for the city. " Right now our priority is

> making sure service goes uninterrupted. "

>

> Dickinson public safety director Kiplinger said

> he thought developing a public EMS service would be a

> topic for discussion.

>

> Grimm said he was fearful that GoldStar would actually

> shut its doors as soon as Friday, which is payday for

> its crews.

>

> " When I asked for a timetable, (Dinkle) was

> uncommitted to anything beyond saying it would be

> within those 14 days, " said Grimm. " We have a loosely

> woven contingency plan that has been in place (for

> about 13 years) that we will have at the ready. "

>

> That plan, said Grimm, includes the use of a rescue

> truck from the Texas City fire department that can

> double as a transport ambulance. If there were a need

> for additional units, the cities under contract with

> GoldStar would have the ability to " commandeer "

> GoldStar units " at a market lease rate, " said Grimm.

>

> The plan also would call for Santa Fe, which has its

> own EMS service, to assist on calls in the western

> portion of the county. League City, which also has a

> volunteer EMS service, would assist in the northern

> portions of the county that GoldStar was responsible

> for servicing.

>

> While Texas City has a full-time fire department where

> all its personnel are certified " in some capacity " as

> emergency medical technicians, the surrounding

> communities do not. Dickinson, La Marque, Hitchcock

> and the San Leon area communities are protected by

> volunteer services.

>

> Kiplinger said his city also was ready with a backup

> plan.

>

> Its immediate plan calls for them to borrow an

> ambulance from another jurisdiction and temporarily

> hire paramedics to run it, he said. This immediate

> plan will be replaced by a mid-term plan in about

> three days, he said.

>

> " There will not be any lapse in service. There won't

> be a five-minute or 10-minute period when there's not

> any ambulance rolling, " said Kiplinger.

>

> Officials from the various communities affected by

> GoldStar's pullout are scheduled to meet Friday to

> discuss short-term as well as long-term options.

>

> +++

>

> GoldStar EMS Timeline

>

> November 2003 — Rural Metro announces it will not

> renegotiate EMS contracts for mainland communities in

> Galveston County.

>

> December 2003 — GoldStar EMS wins contract to provide

> ambulance services for the bulk of the mainland.

>

> April 7, 2005 — U.S. Department of Justice subpoenas

> GoldStar records in Corpus Christi as part of an

> investigation into the company's Medicare billing

> practices.

>

> April 27, 2005 — GoldStar announces it has filed for

> Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

>

> June 14, 2005 — GoldStar announces it is pulling out

> of Galveston County " within the next 14 days. "

>

> Save Mail Print Comment

>

> __________________________________________________

>

June 17, 2005

Sounds like Goldstar hired the old Laidlaw/AMR hachet men Bobby

Knowles,Ron Meyer and Jeff McCullum or maybe they need to!!!! They

got AMR back to a point where Laidlaw sold them for a great profit...

It all seems Dejavu of AMR in Port Arthur 7-8 years ago!!! Good luck

to the poor employees..

In , larry <larry_phillips28@y...>

wrote:

> Goldstar is pulling out of Brownwood tomorrow morning @ 9 am.

>

> Will M <will980_2000@y...> wrote:

>

> GoldStar pulling out of Galveston County

> By TJ Aulds

> The Daily News

>

> Published June 16, 2005

> Less than two years after signing on to provide

> ambulance services for most of the mainland, GoldStar

> EMS is pulling out.

>

> Company officials confirmed the imminent pullout

> following a meeting with employees Wednesday. Human

> resource director Patty Dinkle said the pullout would

> take place " sometime in the next 14 days. "

>

> The Beaumont-based company announced it was seeking

> reorganization bankruptcy protection in late April.

> The emergency medical provider is also under review by

> the U.S. Department of Justice over the Medicare

> billing practices of its Corpus Christi-area

> operations.

>

> Mike Sztary, director of operations for the

> Houston-Galveston region, said that the company

> employs 34 people in Galveston County.

>

> GoldStar is under contract to provide EMS service for

> Texas City, La Marque, Dickinson, San Leon, Tiki

> Island, Bacliff and Hitchcock.

>

> The loss of GoldStar EMS means the mainland

> communities are looking for the third ambulance

> service within two years. GoldStar took over in the

> fall of 2003 after Rural Metro pulled out of contract

> talks.

>

> That instability of service from private companies has

> local emergency officials considering alternatives,

> which may include folding an EMS service under area

> fire departments.

>

> " That's one of the options that would be on the table

> at some point I am sure, " said Texas City Fire Chief

> Gerald Grimm, who oversees emergency services

> operations for the city. " Right now our priority is

> making sure service goes uninterrupted. "

>

> Dickinson public safety director Kiplinger said

> he thought developing a public EMS service would be a

> topic for discussion.

>

> Grimm said he was fearful that GoldStar would actually

> shut its doors as soon as Friday, which is payday for

> its crews.

>

> " When I asked for a timetable, (Dinkle) was

> uncommitted to anything beyond saying it would be

> within those 14 days, " said Grimm. " We have a loosely

> woven contingency plan that has been in place (for

> about 13 years) that we will have at the ready. "

>

> That plan, said Grimm, includes the use of a rescue

> truck from the Texas City fire department that can

> double as a transport ambulance. If there were a need

> for additional units, the cities under contract with

> GoldStar would have the ability to " commandeer "

> GoldStar units " at a market lease rate, " said Grimm.

>

> The plan also would call for Santa Fe, which has its

> own EMS service, to assist on calls in the western

> portion of the county. League City, which also has a

> volunteer EMS service, would assist in the northern

> portions of the county that GoldStar was responsible

> for servicing.

>

> While Texas City has a full-time fire department where

> all its personnel are certified " in some capacity " as

> emergency medical technicians, the surrounding

> communities do not. Dickinson, La Marque, Hitchcock

> and the San Leon area communities are protected by

> volunteer services.

>

> Kiplinger said his city also was ready with a backup

> plan.

>

> Its immediate plan calls for them to borrow an

> ambulance from another jurisdiction and temporarily

> hire paramedics to run it, he said. This immediate

> plan will be replaced by a mid-term plan in about

> three days, he said.

>

> " There will not be any lapse in service. There won't

> be a five-minute or 10-minute period when there's not

> any ambulance rolling, " said Kiplinger.

>

> Officials from the various communities affected by

> GoldStar's pullout are scheduled to meet Friday to

> discuss short-term as well as long-term options.

>

> +++

>

> GoldStar EMS Timeline

>

> November 2003 — Rural Metro announces it will not

> renegotiate EMS contracts for mainland communities in

> Galveston County.

>

> December 2003 — GoldStar EMS wins contract to provide

> ambulance services for the bulk of the mainland.

>

> April 7, 2005 — U.S. Department of Justice subpoenas

> GoldStar records in Corpus Christi as part of an

> investigation into the company's Medicare billing

> practices.

>

> April 27, 2005 — GoldStar announces it has filed for

> Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

>

> June 14, 2005 — GoldStar announces it is pulling out

> of Galveston County " within the next 14 days. "

>

> Save Mail Print Comment

>

> __________________________________________________

>

June 17, 2005

Is Goldstar 1 company or different companies with the same name? jamessolis100

wrote:Sounds like Goldstar hired the old Laidlaw/AMR

hachet men Bobby

Knowles,Ron Meyer and Jeff McCullum or maybe they need to!!!! They

got AMR back to a point where Laidlaw sold them for a great profit...

It all seems Dejavu of AMR in Port Arthur 7-8 years ago!!! Good luck

to the poor employees..

In , larry <larry_phillips28@y...>

wrote:

> Goldstar is pulling out of Brownwood tomorrow morning @ 9 am.

>

> Will M <will980_2000@y...> wrote:

>

> GoldStar pulling out of Galveston County

> By TJ Aulds

> The Daily News

>

> Published June 16, 2005

> Less than two years after signing on to provide

> ambulance services for most of the mainland, GoldStar

> EMS is pulling out.

>

> Company officials confirmed the imminent pullout

> following a meeting with employees Wednesday. Human

> resource director Patty Dinkle said the pullout would

> take place " sometime in the next 14 days. "

>

> The Beaumont-based company announced it was seeking

> reorganization bankruptcy protection in late April.

> The emergency medical provider is also under review by

> the U.S. Department of Justice over the Medicare

> billing practices of its Corpus Christi-area

> operations.

>

> Mike Sztary, director of operations for the

> Houston-Galveston region, said that the company

> employs 34 people in Galveston County.

>

> GoldStar is under contract to provide EMS service for

> Texas City, La Marque, Dickinson, San Leon, Tiki

> Island, Bacliff and Hitchcock.

>

> The loss of GoldStar EMS means the mainland

> communities are looking for the third ambulance

> service within two years. GoldStar took over in the

> fall of 2003 after Rural Metro pulled out of contract

> talks.

>

> That instability of service from private companies has

> local emergency officials considering alternatives,

> which may include folding an EMS service under area

> fire departments.

>

> " That's one of the options that would be on the table

> at some point I am sure, " said Texas City Fire Chief

> Gerald Grimm, who oversees emergency services

> operations for the city. " Right now our priority is

> making sure service goes uninterrupted. "

>

> Dickinson public safety director Kiplinger said

> he thought developing a public EMS service would be a

> topic for discussion.

>

> Grimm said he was fearful that GoldStar would actually

> shut its doors as soon as Friday, which is payday for

> its crews.

>

> " When I asked for a timetable, (Dinkle) was

> uncommitted to anything beyond saying it would be

> within those 14 days, " said Grimm. " We have a loosely

> woven contingency plan that has been in place (for

> about 13 years) that we will have at the ready. "

>

> That plan, said Grimm, includes the use of a rescue

> truck from the Texas City fire department that can

> double as a transport ambulance. If there were a need

> for additional units, the cities under contract with

> GoldStar would have the ability to " commandeer "

> GoldStar units " at a market lease rate, " said Grimm.

>

> The plan also would call for Santa Fe, which has its

> own EMS service, to assist on calls in the western

> portion of the county. League City, which also has a

> volunteer EMS service, would assist in the northern

> portions of the county that GoldStar was responsible

> for servicing.

>

> While Texas City has a full-time fire department where

> all its personnel are certified " in some capacity " as

> emergency medical technicians, the surrounding

> communities do not. Dickinson, La Marque, Hitchcock

> and the San Leon area communities are protected by

> volunteer services.

>

> Kiplinger said his city also was ready with a backup

> plan.

>

> Its immediate plan calls for them to borrow an

> ambulance from another jurisdiction and temporarily

> hire paramedics to run it, he said. This immediate

> plan will be replaced by a mid-term plan in about

> three days, he said.

>

> " There will not be any lapse in service. There won't

> be a five-minute or 10-minute period when there's not

> any ambulance rolling, " said Kiplinger.

>

> Officials from the various communities affected by

> GoldStar's pullout are scheduled to meet Friday to

> discuss short-term as well as long-term options.

>

> +++

>

> GoldStar EMS Timeline

>

> November 2003 — Rural Metro announces it will not

> renegotiate EMS contracts for mainland communities in

> Galveston County.

>

> December 2003 — GoldStar EMS wins contract to provide

> ambulance services for the bulk of the mainland.

>

> April 7, 2005 — U.S. Department of Justice subpoenas

> GoldStar records in Corpus Christi as part of an

> investigation into the company's Medicare billing

> practices.

>

> April 27, 2005 — GoldStar announces it has filed for

> Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

>

> June 14, 2005 — GoldStar announces it is pulling out

> of Galveston County " within the next 14 days. "

>

> Save Mail Print Comment

>

> __________________________________________________

>

June 17, 2005

Is Goldstar 1 company or different companies with the same name? jamessolis100

wrote:Sounds like Goldstar hired the old Laidlaw/AMR

hachet men Bobby

Knowles,Ron Meyer and Jeff McCullum or maybe they need to!!!! They

got AMR back to a point where Laidlaw sold them for a great profit...

It all seems Dejavu of AMR in Port Arthur 7-8 years ago!!! Good luck

to the poor employees..

In , larry <larry_phillips28@y...>

wrote:

> Goldstar is pulling out of Brownwood tomorrow morning @ 9 am.

>

> Will M <will980_2000@y...> wrote:

>

> GoldStar pulling out of Galveston County

> By TJ Aulds

> The Daily News

>

> Published June 16, 2005

> Less than two years after signing on to provide

> ambulance services for most of the mainland, GoldStar

> EMS is pulling out.

>

> Company officials confirmed the imminent pullout

> following a meeting with employees Wednesday. Human

> resource director Patty Dinkle said the pullout would

> take place " sometime in the next 14 days. "

>

> The Beaumont-based company announced it was seeking

> reorganization bankruptcy protection in late April.

> The emergency medical provider is also under review by

> the U.S. Department of Justice over the Medicare

> billing practices of its Corpus Christi-area

> operations.

>

> Mike Sztary, director of operations for the

> Houston-Galveston region, said that the company

> employs 34 people in Galveston County.

>

> GoldStar is under contract to provide EMS service for

> Texas City, La Marque, Dickinson, San Leon, Tiki

> Island, Bacliff and Hitchcock.

>

> The loss of GoldStar EMS means the mainland

> communities are looking for the third ambulance

> service within two years. GoldStar took over in the

> fall of 2003 after Rural Metro pulled out of contract

> talks.

>

> That instability of service from private companies has

> local emergency officials considering alternatives,

> which may include folding an EMS service under area

> fire departments.

>

> " That's one of the options that would be on the table

> at some point I am sure, " said Texas City Fire Chief

> Gerald Grimm, who oversees emergency services

> operations for the city. " Right now our priority is

> making sure service goes uninterrupted. "

>

> Dickinson public safety director Kiplinger said

> he thought developing a public EMS service would be a

> topic for discussion.

>

> Grimm said he was fearful that GoldStar would actually

> shut its doors as soon as Friday, which is payday for

> its crews.

>

> " When I asked for a timetable, (Dinkle) was

> uncommitted to anything beyond saying it would be

> within those 14 days, " said Grimm. " We have a loosely

> woven contingency plan that has been in place (for

> about 13 years) that we will have at the ready. "

>

> That plan, said Grimm, includes the use of a rescue

> truck from the Texas City fire department that can

> double as a transport ambulance. If there were a need

> for additional units, the cities under contract with

> GoldStar would have the ability to " commandeer "

> GoldStar units " at a market lease rate, " said Grimm.

>

> The plan also would call for Santa Fe, which has its

> own EMS service, to assist on calls in the western

> portion of the county. League City, which also has a

> volunteer EMS service, would assist in the northern

> portions of the county that GoldStar was responsible

> for servicing.

>

> While Texas City has a full-time fire department where

> all its personnel are certified " in some capacity " as

> emergency medical technicians, the surrounding

> communities do not. Dickinson, La Marque, Hitchcock

> and the San Leon area communities are protected by

> volunteer services.

>

> Kiplinger said his city also was ready with a backup

> plan.

>

> Its immediate plan calls for them to borrow an

> ambulance from another jurisdiction and temporarily

> hire paramedics to run it, he said. This immediate

> plan will be replaced by a mid-term plan in about

> three days, he said.

>

> " There will not be any lapse in service. There won't

> be a five-minute or 10-minute period when there's not

> any ambulance rolling, " said Kiplinger.

>

> Officials from the various communities affected by

> GoldStar's pullout are scheduled to meet Friday to

> discuss short-term as well as long-term options.

>

> +++

>

> GoldStar EMS Timeline

>

> November 2003 — Rural Metro announces it will not

> renegotiate EMS contracts for mainland communities in

> Galveston County.

>

> December 2003 — GoldStar EMS wins contract to provide

> ambulance services for the bulk of the mainland.

>

> April 7, 2005 — U.S. Department of Justice subpoenas

> GoldStar records in Corpus Christi as part of an

> investigation into the company's Medicare billing

> practices.

>

> April 27, 2005 — GoldStar announces it has filed for

> Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

>

> June 14, 2005 — GoldStar announces it is pulling out

> of Galveston County " within the next 14 days. "

>

> Save Mail Print Comment

>

> __________________________________________________

>

June 17, 2005

As I understand it, GoldStar is multiple different partnerships operating under

different names. The concept is somewhat similar to Enron.

Folks -- NOW can we agree that 911 EMS response needs to be a government

function? (fire department, hospital district, or third-service provider)

-Wes

Re: Re: GoldStar pulling out of Galveston County

Is Goldstar 1 company or different companies with the same name? jamessolis100

wrote:Sounds like Goldstar hired the old Laidlaw/AMR

hachet men Bobby

Knowles,Ron Meyer and Jeff McCullum or maybe they need to!!!! They

got AMR back to a point where Laidlaw sold them for a great profit...

It all seems Dejavu of AMR in Port Arthur 7-8 years ago!!! Good luck

to the poor employees..

In , larry <larry_phillips28@y...>

wrote:

> Goldstar is pulling out of Brownwood tomorrow morning @ 9 am.

>

> Will M <will980_2000@y...> wrote:

>

> GoldStar pulling out of Galveston County

> By TJ Aulds

> The Daily News

>

> Published June 16, 2005

> Less than two years after signing on to provide

> ambulance services for most of the mainland, GoldStar

> EMS is pulling out.

>

> Company officials confirmed the imminent pullout

> following a meeting with employees Wednesday. Human

> resource director Patty Dinkle said the pullout would

> take place " sometime in the next 14 days. "

>

> The Beaumont-based company announced it was seeking

> reorganization bankruptcy protection in late April.

> The emergency medical provider is also under review by

> the U.S. Department of Justice over the Medicare

> billing practices of its Corpus Christi-area

> operations.

>

> Mike Sztary, director of operations for the

> Houston-Galveston region, said that the company

> employs 34 people in Galveston County.

>

> GoldStar is under contract to provide EMS service for

> Texas City, La Marque, Dickinson, San Leon, Tiki

> Island, Bacliff and Hitchcock.

>

> The loss of GoldStar EMS means the mainland

> communities are looking for the third ambulance

> service within two years. GoldStar took over in the

> fall of 2003 after Rural Metro pulled out of contract

> talks.

>

> That instability of service from private companies has

> local emergency officials considering alternatives,

> which may include folding an EMS service under area

> fire departments.

>

> " That's one of the options that would be on the table

> at some point I am sure, " said Texas City Fire Chief

> Gerald Grimm, who oversees emergency services

> operations for the city. " Right now our priority is

> making sure service goes uninterrupted. "

>

> Dickinson public safety director Kiplinger said

> he thought developing a public EMS service would be a

> topic for discussion.

>

> Grimm said he was fearful that GoldStar would actually

> shut its doors as soon as Friday, which is payday for

> its crews.

>

> " When I asked for a timetable, (Dinkle) was

> uncommitted to anything beyond saying it would be

> within those 14 days, " said Grimm. " We have a loosely

> woven contingency plan that has been in place (for

> about 13 years) that we will have at the ready. "

>

> That plan, said Grimm, includes the use of a rescue

> truck from the Texas City fire department that can

> double as a transport ambulance. If there were a need

> for additional units, the cities under contract with

> GoldStar would have the ability to " commandeer "

> GoldStar units " at a market lease rate, " said Grimm.

>

> The plan also would call for Santa Fe, which has its

> own EMS service, to assist on calls in the western

> portion of the county. League City, which also has a

> volunteer EMS service, would assist in the northern

> portions of the county that GoldStar was responsible

> for servicing.

>

> While Texas City has a full-time fire department where

> all its personnel are certified " in some capacity " as

> emergency medical technicians, the surrounding

> communities do not. Dickinson, La Marque, Hitchcock

> and the San Leon area communities are protected by

> volunteer services.

>

> Kiplinger said his city also was ready with a backup

> plan.

>

> Its immediate plan calls for them to borrow an

> ambulance from another jurisdiction and temporarily

> hire paramedics to run it, he said. This immediate

> plan will be replaced by a mid-term plan in about

> three days, he said.

>

> " There will not be any lapse in service. There won't

> be a five-minute or 10-minute period when there's not

> any ambulance rolling, " said Kiplinger.

>

> Officials from the various communities affected by

> GoldStar's pullout are scheduled to meet Friday to

> discuss short-term as well as long-term options.

>

> +++

>

> GoldStar EMS Timeline

>

> November 2003 ? Rural Metro announces it will not

> renegotiate EMS contracts for mainland communities in

> Galveston County.

>

> December 2003 ? GoldStar EMS wins contract to provide

> ambulance services for the bulk of the mainland.

>

> April 7, 2005 ? U.S. Department of Justice subpoenas

> GoldStar records in Corpus Christi as part of an

> investigation into the company's Medicare billing

> practices.

>

> April 27, 2005 ? GoldStar announces it has filed for

> Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

>

> June 14, 2005 ? GoldStar announces it is pulling out

> of Galveston County " within the next 14 days. "

>

> Save Mail Print Comment

>

> __________________________________________________

>

June 17, 2005

As I understand it, GoldStar is multiple different partnerships operating under

different names. The concept is somewhat similar to Enron.

Folks -- NOW can we agree that 911 EMS response needs to be a government

function? (fire department, hospital district, or third-service provider)

-Wes

Re: Re: GoldStar pulling out of Galveston County

Is Goldstar 1 company or different companies with the same name? jamessolis100

wrote:Sounds like Goldstar hired the old Laidlaw/AMR

hachet men Bobby

Knowles,Ron Meyer and Jeff McCullum or maybe they need to!!!! They

got AMR back to a point where Laidlaw sold them for a great profit...

It all seems Dejavu of AMR in Port Arthur 7-8 years ago!!! Good luck

to the poor employees..

In , larry <larry_phillips28@y...>

wrote:

> Goldstar is pulling out of Brownwood tomorrow morning @ 9 am.

>

> Will M <will980_2000@y...> wrote:

>

> GoldStar pulling out of Galveston County

> By TJ Aulds

> The Daily News

>

> Published June 16, 2005

> Less than two years after signing on to provide

> ambulance services for most of the mainland, GoldStar

> EMS is pulling out.

>

> Company officials confirmed the imminent pullout

> following a meeting with employees Wednesday. Human

> resource director Patty Dinkle said the pullout would

> take place " sometime in the next 14 days. "

>

> The Beaumont-based company announced it was seeking

> reorganization bankruptcy protection in late April.

> The emergency medical provider is also under review by

> the U.S. Department of Justice over the Medicare

> billing practices of its Corpus Christi-area

> operations.

>

> Mike Sztary, director of operations for the

> Houston-Galveston region, said that the company

> employs 34 people in Galveston County.

>

> GoldStar is under contract to provide EMS service for

> Texas City, La Marque, Dickinson, San Leon, Tiki

> Island, Bacliff and Hitchcock.

>

> The loss of GoldStar EMS means the mainland

> communities are looking for the third ambulance

> service within two years. GoldStar took over in the

> fall of 2003 after Rural Metro pulled out of contract

> talks.

>

> That instability of service from private companies has

> local emergency officials considering alternatives,

> which may include folding an EMS service under area

> fire departments.

>

> " That's one of the options that would be on the table

> at some point I am sure, " said Texas City Fire Chief

> Gerald Grimm, who oversees emergency services

> operations for the city. " Right now our priority is

> making sure service goes uninterrupted. "

>

> Dickinson public safety director Kiplinger said

> he thought developing a public EMS service would be a

> topic for discussion.

>

> Grimm said he was fearful that GoldStar would actually

> shut its doors as soon as Friday, which is payday for

> its crews.

>

> " When I asked for a timetable, (Dinkle) was

> uncommitted to anything beyond saying it would be

> within those 14 days, " said Grimm. " We have a loosely

> woven contingency plan that has been in place (for

> about 13 years) that we will have at the ready. "

>

> That plan, said Grimm, includes the use of a rescue

> truck from the Texas City fire department that can

> double as a transport ambulance. If there were a need

> for additional units, the cities under contract with

> GoldStar would have the ability to " commandeer "

> GoldStar units " at a market lease rate, " said Grimm.

>

> The plan also would call for Santa Fe, which has its

> own EMS service, to assist on calls in the western

> portion of the county. League City, which also has a

> volunteer EMS service, would assist in the northern

> portions of the county that GoldStar was responsible

> for servicing.

>

> While Texas City has a full-time fire department where

> all its personnel are certified " in some capacity " as

> emergency medical technicians, the surrounding

> communities do not. Dickinson, La Marque, Hitchcock

> and the San Leon area communities are protected by

> volunteer services.

>

> Kiplinger said his city also was ready with a backup

> plan.

>

> Its immediate plan calls for them to borrow an

> ambulance from another jurisdiction and temporarily

> hire paramedics to run it, he said. This immediate

> plan will be replaced by a mid-term plan in about

> three days, he said.

>

> " There will not be any lapse in service. There won't

> be a five-minute or 10-minute period when there's not

> any ambulance rolling, " said Kiplinger.

>

> Officials from the various communities affected by

> GoldStar's pullout are scheduled to meet Friday to

> discuss short-term as well as long-term options.

>

> +++

>

> GoldStar EMS Timeline

>

> November 2003 ? Rural Metro announces it will not

> renegotiate EMS contracts for mainland communities in

> Galveston County.

>

> December 2003 ? GoldStar EMS wins contract to provide

> ambulance services for the bulk of the mainland.

>

> April 7, 2005 ? U.S. Department of Justice subpoenas

> GoldStar records in Corpus Christi as part of an

> investigation into the company's Medicare billing

> practices.

>

> April 27, 2005 ? GoldStar announces it has filed for

> Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

>

> June 14, 2005 ? GoldStar announces it is pulling out

> of Galveston County " within the next 14 days. "

>

> Save Mail Print Comment

>

> __________________________________________________

>

June 17, 2005

,

I suspect you have been smoking crack!!!

Quoting you and wondering if your numbers are wrong or are mine

" They got AMR back to a point where Laidlaw sold them for a great profit... "

How sure are you about that statement?

bkw

david pritchett wrote:

>Is Goldstar 1 company or different companies with the same name? jamessolis100

wrote:Sounds like Goldstar hired the old Laidlaw/AMR

hachet men Bobby

>Knowles,Ron Meyer and Jeff McCullum or maybe they need to!!!! They

>got AMR back to a point where Laidlaw sold them for a great profit...

>It all seems Dejavu of AMR in Port Arthur 7-8 years ago!!! Good luck

>to the poor employees..

>In , larry <larry_phillips28@y...>

>wrote:

>

June 17, 2005

,

I suspect you have been smoking crack!!!

Quoting you and wondering if your numbers are wrong or are mine

" They got AMR back to a point where Laidlaw sold them for a great profit... "

How sure are you about that statement?

bkw

david pritchett wrote:

>Is Goldstar 1 company or different companies with the same name? jamessolis100

wrote:Sounds like Goldstar hired the old Laidlaw/AMR

hachet men Bobby

>Knowles,Ron Meyer and Jeff McCullum or maybe they need to!!!! They

>got AMR back to a point where Laidlaw sold them for a great profit...

>It all seems Dejavu of AMR in Port Arthur 7-8 years ago!!! Good luck

>to the poor employees..

>In , larry <larry_phillips28@y...>

>wrote:

>

June 17, 2005

,

I suspect you have been smoking crack!!!

Quoting you and wondering if your numbers are wrong or are mine

" They got AMR back to a point where Laidlaw sold them for a great profit... "

How sure are you about that statement?

bkw

david pritchett wrote:

>Is Goldstar 1 company or different companies with the same name? jamessolis100

wrote:Sounds like Goldstar hired the old Laidlaw/AMR

hachet men Bobby

>Knowles,Ron Meyer and Jeff McCullum or maybe they need to!!!! They

>got AMR back to a point where Laidlaw sold them for a great profit...

>It all seems Dejavu of AMR in Port Arthur 7-8 years ago!!! Good luck

>to the poor employees..

>In , larry <larry_phillips28@y...>

>wrote:

>

June 17, 2005

lets see... Onex paid 12.3 billion, Laidlaw bought AMR for 4.6

million amd Med Trans for 3 Billion... 4.6 + 3 = 7.6 billion - 12.3

billion...looks like a profit of $4.6 billion to me....

From the Onex/EMS LP web:

In the first quarter of 2005, Management and Onex Partners L.P formed

EMS L.P. to purchase AMR and EmCare from Laidlaw International Inc.

for $12.3 billion. Onex Corporation is a diversified company with

annual consolidated revenues of approximately $16 billion and

consolidated assets of approximately $13 billion. Onex is one of

Canada 's largest companies with global operations in service,

manufacturing and technology industries. Its healthcare investments

include Magellan Health Services, Inc., Res-Care Inc. and Center for

Diagnostic, Inc. Onex's objective is to create long-term value by

building industry-leading business.

AMR was acquired by Laidlaw International in 1996 for$ 4.6 billion,

becoming a subsidiary of North America's largest provider of school

and inter-city bus transportation, municipal and para-transit bus

transportation, health care transportation and emergency management

service. Laidlaw's 95,000 employees provide services to

passengers

and patients from nearly 4,000 locations in the United States and

Canada.

In February of 1997, AMR merged with Med Trans at a cost of $3

billion, becoming the largest ambulance service provider in the U.S.

> >

June 17, 2005