Port Matilda EMS to cease operations in next 90 days

PORT MATILDA — A local municipality could be losing its emergency medical services by the end of the year. According to a Facebook post Nov. 21 by Port Matilda EMS, its service will cease operations within 90 days. The post read, “Today we shared with the local townships and Port Matilda Borough that comprise our service area that we will be notifying Seven (Mountains) EMS and the state of our intent to close the service within 90 days.” The post said that the “decision was not made easily and not without a lot of regret.”

According to the post, Port Matilda EMS has been understaffed all year and will lose two key employees by the end of the year.

“This only leaves us with two part-time employees and one volunteer,” the post continued. “That’s not enough to provide an adequate level of service to our community.”

There has been a shortage of trained EMS personnel as well, the post noted.

“We have been unable to provide competitive wages and benefits based on our income from insurance billing and memberships,” the post read.

By the morning of Nov. 22, the post had been shared 129 times and had elicited 52 reactions and 28 comments.

Back in 2019, Port Matilda EMS held a fundraiser, noting the service was in a “critical situation.” That was followed by widespread shutdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Port Matilda EMS is not alone in its struggles.

According to the National Rural Health Association, close to one-third of all rural EMS organizations are in immediate danger of shutting down. Like in Port Matilda, underfunding and lack of reimbursement is an issue across the nation. While a new law requires insurance companies to pay for services even if a patient is not transported to the hospital, Medicare and Medicaid only cover a fraction of the cost of an EMS visit. Some insurance companies send the payment for the services directly to the patient.

As a result, EMS sometimes never sees that reimbursement. The company then must spend more money in an attempt to get those payments from the patients, through collections.

The Facebook post went on to thank residents of the borough as well as those of Halfmoon, Huston, Worth, Taylor, parts of Ferguson and Warriors Mark townships.

“We thank you for your support over the last several years. Between buying annual memberships and supporting our fundraisers, you have stepped up for us many times. It has truly been an honor to support this community,” the post read.

The post asked that residents support whatever EMS organization is selected to replace Port Matilda EMS.

“Once decisions have been made about what EMS company will serve your area, please support them and buy a membership, which will help them continue to provide an excellent level of care for you and your loved ones,” the post read.