Pennsylvania Department Cuts Paramedic Coverage

What’s causing Honesdale EMS to scale back operations, effective October 1? A news release from Sharon Gumpper, Honesdale EMS executive director, says “major decisions by the PA Department of Health, via the regional EMS office in Pittston, PA, and by the Wayne and Pike County Communications Center Officials have negatively impacted Honesdale’s financial ability to provide the Advanced Life Support (ALS) services in the areas that have been receiving this critical level of emergency care for the last seven years.

“Effective October 1, 2009, Honesdale EMS will limit the provision of Advanced Life Support services to areas where we are designated as the primary BLS (basic life support) provider. These include only the Greater Honesdale Area and Paupack Township, Wayne County.” Further questions were directed to the Emergency Medical Services of Northeastern, Pennsylvania (EMS of NEPA). When asked what was going on, EMS of NEPA Executive Vice President John Campos, said, “It sounds like a simple question, but it’s not a simple answer. It’s getting complicated.” I m not clear on what is going on right now concerning dispatching, but everyone has ALS coverage, as I understand it, Campos said.

Pike County ALS, an existing, licensed provider stationed in Milford, was recently approved to have a station in Hawley. Campos’ office recommended the Pennsylvania Department of Health approve the license amendment, since they met all requirements. “There’s no exclusivity to the service area. There is no exclusive territory granted,” he said, meaning two ambulance services can exist side by side. It’s no different than having two restaurants next to one another, he said. “Whether or not a community wants to use a particular service as the primary provider is a separate issue from the service having a license.

Hawley Fire and Rescue Company recently entered into a joint billing agreement with Pike County ALS. Up until August, 2008, Hawley Fire and Rescue had a lease agreement with Honesdale EMS, which Hawley canceled upon advice from their billing company.

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