In its initial announcement, AMR mentioned the phaseout of nonemergency services only in L.A. County. However, the company told KHN that it would stop servicing five hospitals in Orange County in addition to seven hospitals in L.A. County.
There isn’t consensus on what the impact of AMR’s pullout will be. The state told KHN that it will review and address access issues on a “targeted basis” if it becomes aware of any. Patient advocates said it’s too early to draw conclusions about the effect on patients, particularly those covered by Medi-Cal. The California Ambulance Association flagged concerns that companies are already stretched thin by staffing and vehicle shortages.
AMR said its pullout will primarily affect Providence, a Catholic health system operating in several states, including California. It did not respond to a request for comment.AMR now also attributes its exit to avoiding a labor dispute. Sorrick said that because of Medi-Cal’s rates, AMR could not staff both emergency and nonemergency ambulances and raise wages for unionized emergency staffers who were threatening to strike.
So far, it’s unclear whether elected officials have noticed the pullout. Leaders of legislative budget committees declined to comment or did not respond to inquiries.