Subject:
Title
Issuance of eight new Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity for non-medical wheelchair transport and stretcher van providers.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Sitting as the Emergency Medical Services Authority, issue eight new Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity (COPCN) for each non-medical wheelchair and/or stretcher van transport provider on the attached listing.
• These firms have completed an application and meet the Authority’s requirement to operate as non-medical wheelchair and wheelchair/stretcher van providers.
• Of the eight new applications, six firms are requesting to render non-medical wheelchair, one firm is requesting to render non-medical wheelchair and stretcher van, and one firm is requesting to render stretcher van transport services.
• If approved, there will be a total of eleven firms providing non-medical wheelchair, three firms providing non-medical wheelchair and stretcher van, and two firms providing stretcher van transport services.
• If approved, the new COPCNs will be effective on July 22, 2025, and expire on June 30, 2026. Certificates approved during this period will be renewed in June 2026 as part of the annual batch renewal process.
• Vehicle inspections are performed prior to issuing the COPCN, and records are kept on file.
• The County has transitioned from a paper application to a new electronic system, and all providers have met the requirements.
• The issuance of these certificates will have no fiscal impact on Pinellas County.
Authorize the Chairman to sign the certificates.
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Strategic Priorities:
Healthy and Safe Communities
2.1 Improve public health
2.2 Enhance community safety
Summary:
Summary
Easy Access FL LLC; Access A Ride Corp; NDI Health Services, LLC, d/b/a Skyline Transport; Sunny Wheelchair Transportation LLC; TruCare Transport LLC; EV Elite Vehicles, LLC; Avesta Healthcare LLC d/b/a Florida Medical Transport; and Wealth Warren Services & Solutions, Inc. have met the Authority’s requirements to operate as non-medical wheelchair and/or stretcher van transport providers.
If approved, the new COPCNs will expire on June 30, 2026.
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Background Information:
Pursuant to Pinellas County Code, Chapter 54, firms providing Wheelchair/Stretcher Van Transportation Services are required to obtain a COPCN in order to operate in Pinellas County. For each service provider, the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division of Safety and Emergency Services provides various administrative duties such as keeping records, verifying forms, updating vehicle and driver rosters, reviewing Certificates of Incorporation, Certifications of Fictitious Names, insurance verification forms, and retail rate forms. EMS also performs vehicle inspections on thirteen (13) criteria for each transport vehicle. Some providers have dozens of vehicles.
Vehicle inspections are performed prior to issuing the COPCN, and records are kept on file.
The County has transitioned from a paper application to a new electronic system, and all providers have met the requirements.
There are currently eight permitted companies in Pinellas County. Two of the eight firms have applied to render both wheelchair and stretcher van services. This current item is to add eight additional permitted companies. Total permitted companies will now be sixteen.
Fiscal Impact:
There is no fee for certification. Staff administration of the process is included in the annual operating budget for the EMS Fund.
Staff Member Responsible:
James G. Fogarty, Director, Safety and Emergency Services
Partners:
Easy Access FL LLC
Access A Ride Corp
NDI Health Services, LLC, d/b/a Skyline Transport
Sunny Wheelchair Transportation LLC
TruCare Transport LLC
EV Elite Vehicles, LLC
Avesta Healthcare LLC d/b/a Florida Medical Transport
Wealth Warren Services & Solutions, Inc.
Attachments:
Provider Agency List
COPCN Certificates
COPCN Applications