By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

The Ellis County Commission approved the creation the position of Medical Billing Specialist within the Health Services Department at Monday’s commission meeting.

Currently, Health Services has a person responsible for handling billing for EMS and an outside entity handles the billing for the Health Department.

Health Services Administrator Kerry McCue said the move will put one person in charge of all medical billing done for Health Services.

“This would do what I would call accounts payable through accounts receivable,” said McCue.

The position will be created by changing the current Public Health Billing Coordinator position to the Medical Billing Specialist and there is no addition financial impact, according to McCue.

The commission also approved the purchase of a new pickup from Long McArthur for the Noxious Weed Department for a new spray truck.

The pickup cost was $39,995 through Long McArthur in Salina. No local company submitted a bid.

The Road and Bridge Department will build the spray system for approximately $47,600.

The truck will replace a 1995 roadside spray truck.

In other business, the commission heard a budget request from the Western Kansas Children Advocacy Center and a presentation from the Northwest Kansas Planning and Development Commission.