Citizens, Eureka EMS consider merger to combat financial burden

Financial struggles could force the merger of two of the longest-serving EMS companies in the Alle-Kiski Valley.

Citizens EMS in Harrison and Eureka Community Ambulance Service in Tarentum are considering joining forces to become one provider — though discussions are in the early phases and details are scant.

Harrison’s commissioners have joined three other towns — Tarentum, Brackenridge and East Deer — to explore the formation of an ambulance authority that would oversee funding.

“This would be a game changer,” Citizens EMS Director Jim Erb said.

“We probably waited too long. Maybe it was pride, but it’s definitely the time now.”

Both companies were founded in 1936 as a response to the notorious St. Patrick’s Day flood. In their heyday, membership was robust and money wasn’t such an obstacle because insurance reimbursements matched services provided, officials said.

That’s far from the case today.

“EMS is a 95% paid workforce, and reimbursements are rock-bottom,” Erb said.

Providers get back 30% to 60% of what they spend to care for patients from insurance companies.

Eureka announced this year that a “nonexistent” cash flow from state, federal and local sources would cause imminent closure or cutbacks in the company that serves Tarentum, Brackenridge, East Deer, Frazer and Fawn.

“Costs continue to rise and insurance reimbursements continue to be less than perfect,” Eureka Chief Brad James said. “The effect is we cannot pay competitive wages to attract anyone in an already diminished employee pool.”

An EMT earns about $15 to $17 an hour, or about $36,800 a year, according to salary.com.

Tarentum and Brackenridge officials took the lead and formed a committee to consider forming an ambulance authority. It would act like a taxing body and remove the burden of operational costs from EMS. The authority would distribute the cost of emergency medical services among municipalities that sign on.

Harrison and East Deer followed suit, sending community representatives to a semimonthly meeting to discuss how a merger of Eureka and Citizens would impact services, training and equipment.

“There’s no decisions being made yet,” East Deer Commissioner Tony Taliani said. “We’re gathering data.”

Each of the municipalities has supplied figures on population and other necessary demographics.

“We need to know how many road miles each town has, what’s their millage, their budget,” Taliani said. “It’s not going to be a quick process but we are moving forward.”

Harrison Township Manager Amy Rockwell said their commissioners voted to join the committee because they acknowledge the challenges faced by local EMS under the current model, as reimbursements fail to cover operational costs.

The group meets at 5 p.m. every other Wednesday in a rotating location. The next meeting is in Tarentum. The meetings are not open to the public, but Erb said residents will get a chance to weigh in at some point.

Frazer Supervisor Lori Ziencik said her board has not joined the committee because they want to see what the costs are and how they would be distributed.

Similarly, Fawn Secretary Pam Ponsart said supervisors don’t want to be part of an authority but are willing to review the responsibilities as details become more solid.

“We want to get some numbers and need a little more information,” Ponsart said.

Pennsylvania law mandates that municipalities provide ambulance services.

James said that without a guaranteed funding flow from local, state and federal sources, it would be impossible to stay afloat. From about 12,000 residents in the five municipalities it serves, Eureka gets about $41,000 in donations. They come from about 18% of households.

Citizens gets money from about 25% of the households in the area it serves.

“We and Citizens need each other to continue to be able to even attempt to survive the current state of EMS,” James said.

“An authority might mean a new beginning for EMS in this area, such as the model we are looking at from Lancaster County, or it might be an alteration of how we currently operate. These details will need addressed moving forward.”

Tarentum Manager Dwight Boddorf said the committee will form a recommendation only.

“It will be up to each of the municipalities on how they are going to handle EMS going forward, whether it is going with the recommendations or something else,” he said. “It will be a couple months in the making.”

Both stations could remain open under a potential merger.

“There’s a lot to learn,” Erb said. “We would be combining resources and personnel, but the biggest thing is the funding mechanism.

“By becoming an authority, you get permission from each municipality whether that’s an annual fee or by household. This isn’t a donation, it’s an assessment — no different from your water bill.

“We are 100% committed to making this work.”