It may be time for push to come to shove with regard to Westside Community Ambulance and questions about whether those of us who are supporting the publicly-owned service through Measure A property tax assessments are really getting the service we pay for.

Many believe that Westside’s standing as a sub-contractor for privately-owned Riggs Ambulance Service, which holds the contract for countywide emergency medical services throughout Merced County, is leaving the local taxpayers holding the bag.

I agree, and enough concerns have been voiced that city officials in Gustine have pledged to look into the matter. Gustine Mayor Rich Ford said he wants to involve Newman in the discussions as well, and Mayor Ed Katen agreed that the issue is of concern to both communities.

The county line complicates matters somewhat.

As I recall it, when Merced County went to a single provider system several years ago, Westside’s only option for staying in business was to operate as a sub-contractor for the winning bidder of the countywide contract.

The issue, though, is that Westside’s two ambulances - based in Santa Nella and at the old Westside Community Hospital on Highway 33 between Newman and Gustine - are subject to being pulled out of the local coverage area and being posted in Los Banos or beyond when Riggs’ ambulances there are on calls.

Ambulance posting is like a game in which when one piece moves they all move, which is why it is not uncommon to see a Westside Ambulance parked at Walmart in Los Banos. They’re not shopping. They’re covering a broader area because the Riggs’ Los Banos unit is unavailable.....which means that they are also out of position to serve the taxpayers who are ponying up money each year to have ambulance service. Local ambulance service.

To be sure, it goes both ways. I have seen Riggs units posting in Gustine and, I believe, running calls in Newman.

Patterson Ambulance and Westside also post for each other as needed and as available.

It seems increasingly common to see Patterson running calls into Newman and at times into Gustine. There may be times that is because both Westside units are on local calls of their own, but it would seem to be a safe bet that at other times Patterson is summoned because Westside is covering Los Banos.

The situation is sometimes complicated and often convoluted, and raises numerous questions.

Do residents who pay Measure A tax, particularly those in Merced County, receive any different level of service than those who do not?

Are West Side property owners essentially subsidizing privately-owned Riggs?

If Riggs benefits from having a publicly-subsidized ambulance cover a portion of the county which most likely would be a money-loser (which is probably great from a business point of view, but we’re footing the bill), what benefits to the local residents get in return?

Where does the Stanislaus County portion of the healthcare district fit into all this? A Riggs executive suggested to me in one conversation that West Side Healthcare District is free to put an ambulance in Newman if it chooses, but that both Westside ambulances are essentially considered part of the Merced County system status plan and are subject to being pulled out of the district.

West Side residents stepped up to the plate in 1984 when they approved Measure A and they rightly battled to keep their local ambulance service when Merced County announced its single provider plan, but I don’t think this was what they were bargaining for.

Officials of the healthcare district have stated that their hands are essentially tied, and that it must play by a new set of rules as a sub-contractor.

Ultimately, I think it is up to the communities to decide if that is truly the case.

It is time for our local governments and our communities to push for answers and solutions to the ambulance concerns and, if none are forthcoming, explore what alternatives may be available.

Perhaps the current arrangement is the best possible and flawed or not we need to stick with it, but the situation merits a close look. We do have an outstanding, dedicated group of men and women who staff the local ambulances, and we appreciate their efforts.

I would hate the idea of ever losing our local ambulance service, if it came to that.

But in some regards, it seems we already have.