Saltsburg-based Lifestat Ambulance closed its doors on Saturday, Dec. 7, after 36 years of operations. The organization cited ongoing financial challenges for the decision.
Lifestat President John Kravetsky announced that the decision to cease operations came after a steady decline in financial reimbursements combined with increasing operational costs, the Indiana Gazette reported.
Rising insurance deductibles and co-pays, which have increased by $200-$300 per trip over the past two years, have left fewer than 5% of patients able or willing to pay these additional costs.
Meanwhile, patients covered by Medicaid have forced providers such as Lifestat to accept minimal payments—sometimes less than $100—for emergency services that often cost over $400 to provide, he told the Gazette.
In the wake of the closure, Saltsburg and surrounding areas will be covered by Mutual Aid EMS, Murrysville Medic 1, and Citizens’ Ambulance Service, though they are also under financial duress.
