The first steps are under way to get the Lawrence County Emergency Medical Services up and running.

That was the report Buddy Fry, new county EMS director, made at Tuesday’s meeting of the Lawrence County Commission.

The commissioners met two days earlier than their regularly scheduled Thursday meeting because of the Thanksgiving holiday.

On Monday the new ambulance service received its NPI or National Provider Identity number. The next step is for the service to apply for Medicare and Medicaid billing numbers. Without which, the service will not be able to be reimbursed for ambulance runs from patients on those two federal health insurance plans.

“You must have a NPI to even apply for the other,” Fry said. “Historically, I am told, it could take from 30 to 90 days (to get those billing numbers.)”

And with the upcoming holidays, Fry said he isn’t sure if that could mean it will take longer, rather than sooner, to get those numbers.

That means the county must come up with a way to pay for the first month or two of making ambulance runs with the new service. After the service is able to bill Medicare and Medicaid, it will be reimbursed for those months.

“The problem is not operational as it is financial,” Commissioner Jason Stephens said. “The taxpayer is paying for only one-third of the service. It’s coming up with the other two-thirds.”

The county was forced to go out on its own when its longtime partners in the Southeast Ohio Emergency Medical Services pulled out of the tri-county district. Both Athens and Jackson county commissioners voted this summer to leave SEOEMS, citing its poor financial record.

However, recent changes in billing procedures had improved the finances of the district. That did not bring those two partners back in.

The commissioners met in executive session for an hour with Assistant Prosecutor Jeff Smith, Fry, Bruce Trent, and Ironton Fire Chief Tom Runyon on pending litigation. No action was taken by the commissioners when they returned to open session.

Commissioners also approved accepting CIGNA for the 2011 county employee health insurance. That move will bring a $125,000 savings over last year.

“We will share that savings with the employees,” Stephens said.

The county will also receive rebates from gridSmart AEP for energy efficiency renovations made at various locations. Rebates will be $1,705.30 for the county court; $1,879.35 for the jail and $7,621 for the juvenile center.

In other business the commissioners:

• Announced a public viewing will be Saturday at 11 a.m. for the acceptance of Shelby Lane in Rome Township.

• Received the weekly dog warden report where 30 dogs were destroyed and three redeemed. There are currently 64 dogs in custody.