Delayed Medicare reimbursements had reached a crisis level for ambulance providers in Kentucky earlier this year. Lt. Gov. Henry met with state EMS organizations, AdminiaStar-Federal, and the Health Care Financing Administration to resolve the crisis that had resulted from long delays for Medicare claims reimbursements.

The Lt. Governor was inducted into the "Kentucky EMS Special Recognition Hall of Fame" tonight at the 2001 Kentucky EMS Awards Banquet in Owensboro. 

Award recipients were selected by a committee made up of representatives from each Kentucky EMS association and the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services.

Jodie Richards, Speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives, was the guest speaker at the ceremony and promised to support emergency medical services during his speech. Speaker Richards was instrumental in the passage of House Bill 405 which created the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services. Experts in the EMS industry feel that the creation of this board will improve the EMS system throughout Kentucky.

Others honored at the awards banquet include:

• Kentucky Dispatcher of the Year: Kelly Shepard, employed by PSCC of Boone County, for her efficient handling of a motor vehicle crash on July 17 that involved ten critical patients.
• Kentucky Emergency Medical Technician of the Year: Jeff Paris, employed by Crittenden County EMS and Union County EMS, for his efforts to raise money for pagers and radios.
• Kentucky Paramedic of the Year: Brant Burden, employed by Henderson EMS, for inventing a piece of medical equipment that is now being used around the world.
• Kentucky EMS Provider of the Year: Campbellsville-Taylor County Rescue for a very diversified emergency medical and rescue program.
• Kentucky EMS Medical Director of the Year: Eric Bentley, M.D., for his commitment to EMS by serving as chairman of the Level III Trauma Center at Taylor County Hospital, as medical director for EMS services in Taylor and Green counties, and as a member of the Kentucky Board of EMS.
• Kentucky EMS Educator of the Year: Cosette Spille, recognized for excelling as an EMT instructor.
• Kentucky EMS for Children Award: Mary Fallat, M.D., for her commitment to EMS for children by serving as the director of trauma at Kosair Children's Hospital in Louisville, as a member of the Kentucky Board of EMS, and as chair of the Kentucky EMS for Children Project.
• Friend of Kentucky EMS: Charlene King, Clinton County Judge Executive, who is being honored for her efforts in securing funds for EMS in her county.

Other awards presented at the banquet included:

• Theresa Martin, who received the Kentucky EMT Instructors Association's Dr. Jack Carey Award, and
• Steve Becraft, who was honored by the Kentucky Association of EMTs.

The Kentucky EMS Conference & Expo is a week-long event that began with the state EMS Rescue Championship on Monday. Training sessions for EMS personnel, instructors, managers and local officials were the main program for the conference that attracted 400 people. The conference concludes with the EMT Instructors Association conference over the weekend.