We learned in the Thursday, Sept. 28, Butler Eagle that the Butler County commissioners are seeking proposals from emergency medical services companies to help support ambulance services in the northern part of the county.

The companies would offer quick response and advanced life support services, primarily, but not only, for communities north of Route 422. The idea is that the contracted company would arrive quickly and stabilize patients, treating them until the ambulance service that normally covers the area can arrive and take the patient to the hospital.

The move is in response to ongoing problems local ambulance services have had recruiting and retaining emergency medical technicians, as well as problems with reimbursement from insurance companies. Because insurance companies only pay when a patient is taken to the hospital for a medical emergency, some calls result in time spent but no reimbursement.

The county would use money from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to pay for the quick response and advanced life support services response.

This is a good start toward dealing with a crisis that we have written about before, and one the Legislature has consistently failed to act on. But, as several county commissioners noted at Wednesday’s meeting, this is not long-term solution.

First, the money from the America Rescue Plan Act will run out. Any extra EMS coverage would need to be paid for another way once that happens.

Second, the county is not the entity responsible for providing emergency services — municipalities are. The problem is, most small municipalities don’t have the tax base to support strong ambulance services.

As Commissioner Kim Geyer noted Wednesday, Butler is one of many counties that has pressed the Legislature to take action and ensure emergency medical coverage is available in rural areas.

“Our efforts to address this at the state level went unheeded,” she said.

The plan announced Wednesday, along with a previously announced plan to start a training academy for EMTs, are important efforts from the county to help solve a massive, statewide problem. But as with most massive, statewide problems, the Legislature has an obligation to act.

Thus far, it’s failed to do so, and that has to change.

— JK