We learned more about Forward Township’s ongoing emergency medical services crisis in the Oct. 19 issue of the Butler Eagle.

Officials who met Wednesday to discuss the situation pointed out that the EMS crisis they are facing is familiar all over the state, Inflation has caused increases in costs — from payroll to equipment — while reimbursements from insurance companies have not kept up.

“What we’re looking for ... is both short-term and long-term answers to this issue,” said township supervisor Mark Wilson.

“I think this is something that’s facing all emergency services,” he said. “The funding is not there as it was before.”

The same day that meeting took place, lawmakers in Harrisburg were sending legislation to the governor’s desk that would increase Medicaid subsidies for Pennsylvania's hospitals and ambulance services.

The bill boosts Medicaid reimbursements for ambulance services by a projected $126 million a year in federal and state aid. The reimbursement includes ground and air transportation.

Under the provision, the state must start reimbursing emergency medical service agencies for every mile traveled with a patient who is covered by Medicaid. Currently, the state reimburses for travel only beyond 20 miles with a Medicaid enrollee.

The state also will boost Medicaid reimbursements for ambulance services to the Medicare rate, if that rate is higher than the Medicaid rate. In some cases, that could mean more than doubling the current $4 per mile reimbursement rate, lawmakers said.

While this helps EMS agencies with Medicaid reimbursements, the question of private insurance remains.

During Wednesday’s meeting, Forward Township supervisor Mel Musulin reiterated his proposal to have the township pay a “subscription fee” for every resident that would guarantee discounted rates for emergency care.

Other speakers brought up suggestions such as levying a tax increase of 0.5 mills to fund ambulance services, the maximum allowed by state law.

This cobbling together of state and local funding for emergency medical services in Forward Township and across the commonwealth may move the needle on the problem, but it certainly won’t solve it.

– RJ