Following waves of closures, Ohio's private EMS companies face financial strain

TOLEDO, Ohio — Dozens of private EMS companies in Ohio have gone out of business over the past few years due to what they've called a severe financial strain.

Superior Ambulance Service is one of the few companies still operating in our area and said they've been feeling that strain and soon the patients could be too.

"It's the Medicaid reimbursement here in Ohio, it is by far one of the lowest in the area, in the nation,” said Ken Truax, general manager of Superior Ambulance Service. "If you're losing money every day, you can't run."

Private ambulances are different from the city's vehicles because they don't typically respond to 911 calls.

Instead they move patients who could require treatment from a paramedic or EMT at any time to next level facilities to help treat them, so if these companies shut down, that responsibility would shift to the city ambulances.

"That means that 911 ambulance is not going to be able to respond to someone at home having an emergency or that car accident," Truax said. "You're going to have longer response times to someone calling 911."

Since they move patients on federal health insurance, the Ohio government only pays these companies one set amount, forcing them to operate at a loss for every one of those trips.

"Our industry is at stake. So are our citizens," said Michelle Dobrosky, regional business development manager of Superior Ambulance Service.

Before Dobrosky was hired by Superior, she owned a private ambulance business of her own, First Care Toledo.

Due to rising costs and little to no income increase, it went out of business in 2020.

She shared that said Ohio’s payments are drastically lower than neighboring states, so the remaining northwest Ohio companies take more business in Michigan where they make hundreds more per trip.

"I turn away more business than I accept at this point."

Dobrosky also shared that an increase in reimbursement wouldn’t increase charges for patients but would allow them to help more people in Ohio.

"We want to make sure we can move you and your loved ones safely."

Superior encourages people to reach out to their local law makers and push for better incentives for private ambulance companies, so they can stay in business and help the Ohio residents who need an ambulance.