After 30 years of providing emergency medical care to Youngstown, American Medical Response told the city it will be ending its service by the end of the year.
Earlier in the week, AMR had announced it is closing non-emergency operations in Los Angeles County, citing stagnant reimbursement rates.
In cutting ties with the Youngstown, AMR said it is not being reimbursed for medical calls.
“We have discussed throughout the last three years, the subsidy is needed to overcome inadequate Medicaid reimbursement which makes up a significant portion of our services and which is below our costs,” AMR stated in a letter, which was obtained by WKBN.
“The current Ohio Medicaid base rate for a basic life support emergency transport is $120 and has not been re-based by the state in years. When we treat and transport Medicaid patients, we are reimbursed far below the cost of providing service — approximately 42% of our cost. More than half our transports, or 54%, are Medicaid recipients.”
Youngstown Law Director Jeff Limbian said the city has requested bids from other ambulance services, adding he anticipates further discussions with AMR.
