David Degner / Getty Images fileStefan Hofer's ambulance company, West Traill EMS, in Mayville, North Dakota, has received only one or two calls that weren’t related toover the past two months. But he said the case count has ballooned by 20 to 30 percent because of the pandemic. At the same time, the company's expenses have mounted, its revenue has cratered and its workforce is being decimated by the virus.
Hofer said he doesn’t know how long his company can keep up its current pace — much less how it will manage the increase in cases they expect from the Thanksgiving holiday — if ambulance services like his don’t receive additional federal aid. He said he may lose employees soon. That could mean answering fewer calls, too.“This isn’t going to be over tomorrow, and that’s the big thing,” he said.
That third phase of funding, however, comes with a limit. It’s available to every health care provider and supplier up to 2 percent of their 2019 revenue. EMS services said they’re thankful for the money, but it won’t keep them from potentially going under. But revenue has collapsed even further because ambulance services are also now expected to treat people in place at the scene of an emergency. It’s the new standard of care during the pandemic, but the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services refuses to reimburse companies for this method of treatment if the patient isn’t technically transported.
Watchdogsniffer I paid $1200 for an ambulance ride of under one mile for my kid when he had a febrile seizure. Was I grateful to have them, of course. Private ambulance companies historically underpay their employees. I’d like to see their P&L statements.
yet elected aristocracy passes 'aid' bills to help out? Where does that money really go. How about you people do some real journalism and follow the damn money!!!
BS, not all C19 Px go to hospital, not all that do via AMB. They as a private entity want Free Fed Funds. Only 911 worthy symptom is breathing issues . most private AMB do not do 911 transport, that is Career/Vol Fire/EMT, Private is used for all other non Emerg transport.
Where is Trump's aid package. This is his 'Watch' and his job to get this done.
JeffK72 This is what happens when you contract public safety to a private service. Their business model is unsustainable & typically unsupported (or minimally supported) by tax $$ They obtain contracts by low bid proposals & operate off billing revenue and by paying employees slave wages
Why would they need aid ?
Full believer in the pandemic but I don’t feel bad for them. They have been ripping off the American people for years! Charging outrageous sums for transports. And let’s not even start on 911 issues, misspent money overcharges to the public who already support them via tax levy’s
Voted 65.5% for trump and now getting EXACTLY what they asked for.
who wrote the letter?Biden,Pelosi who
Yeah ok.
If you can’t get by charging 4,000-10,000 dollars per trip, the problem is your business model.
SenateGOP NRSC MarkWarner thanks Sen Republicans
So when an anti-masker or someone in their family has a medical emergency-stroke, cardiac arrest, car accident-and there’s no one who can help them, then will they admit there’s a pandemic? Will they ever?
emptywheel And the GOP doesn't give a sh*t
emptywheel Since the pandemic began, USA has more than 13.3 mil confirmed cases & over 267K deaths, by far the highest numbers IN THE WORLD! USA accounts for nearly 20% of the global death toll. We suck dealing w/COVID19 thanks to the moron realDonaldTrump! MaskUpforHCW StaySafe
emptywheel There’s an Ambulance Association?
emptywheel Nationalize the 911 emergency medical system.
'Without additional relief, it seems likely to break, even as we enter the third surge of the virus in the Mid-West and the West,' the letter sent to the Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) says.
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