Jack Fisher, who heads up Medic 1 Ambulance headquartered in Benton Harbor as the organization’s Executive Director is calling on the Michigan Legislature to prioritize funding for ambulance services across the state after initial budgets in Lansing show no additional funding headed their way.
Fisher, who also serves as President of the Michigan Association of Ambulance Services (MAAS), says, “Despite inadequate funding, Michigan EMS agencies have been making operations work for decades, but now we have been pushed to the edge.” He adds, “The severe under-funding in our industry combined with significant pandemic-related costs have backed us into a corner and now we need help to survive. We are asking for state leaders to prioritize EMS so we can prioritize the health of Michigan residents.”
While Michigan EMS services are virtually on life support themselves, having been pushed to the brink by the pandemic, Michigan’s elected officials have yet to prioritize funding for ambulance services in the state budget.
After initial budgets passed the Michigan Legislature this week without additional funding for EMS, the Fisher, as head of the Michigan Association of Ambulance Services and leaders at the Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs (MAFC) urged state leaders to properly fund EMS agencies, who haven’t seen a true funding increase in more than 20 years.
To reverse the severe under-funding that EMS has faced in Michigan for decades, both MAAS and MAFC are urging state leaders to include a $10-million increase in state funding for EMS services to bolster Medicaid reimbursement rates. Currently EMS services are only reimbursed for 10- to 25-percent of their costs.
MAFC President Jeff Roberts, who serves as Chief of the Wixom Fire Department, says, “It is a privilege and honor to respond to calls for emergency services, however, the financial burden has created greater challenges on EMS services,” and adds, “EMS services are essential to our communities and we take great pride in the services we provide. Now it’s time to properly fund our services so we can continue to focus on saving lives.”
Michigan EMS agencies haven’t received a rate increase paid by the state since the year 2000 and payments have actually been reduced twice since then.
The Michigan Association of Ambulance Services is a statewide trade association representing and advocating for ambulance services. Their members serve 70-percent of Michigan counties and were responsible for more than 700,000 or 61-percent of ambulance transports in 2020. MAAS members also provide community paramedicine, ER diversion and 9-1-1 services in several areas of Michigan. For more information, you can visit http://www.miambulance.org.
The Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs was established in the early 50’s to assist its members in their efforts to promote effective fire prevention and suppression, emergency medical services and other emergency services through education, technical and legislative means. For more information you can visit http://www.michiefs.org/MAFC
