Two Westmoreland County ambulance services are helping to pick up the slack after Saltsburg-based Lifestat EMS abruptly closed its doors this week.
Citing financial constraints, the Indiana County ambulance station terminated its services after 36 years Saturday night, according to a statement it released Tuesday.
“This difficult decision comes as a result of ongoing financial challenges, largely driven by inadequate reimbursements from insurance carriers,” Lifestat wrote.
Lifestat officials could not be immediately reached for comment Wednesday.
PJ Hruska, acting president for Saltsburg council, described the closure as a sad situation.
“The aftermath is a little rough here, there’s no doubt,” Hruska said. “There’s some panic in town, panic in the area.”
Hruska was shocked by the closure.
“I have to take a little bit of personal blame,” he said. “I knew there was a struggling situation, but I didn’t realize how bad it was.”
EMS services pitch in
Murrysville Medic One, Greensburg-based Mutual Aid and Citizens Ambulance Service — located in Indiana County’s White Township — are working together to temporarily cover calls in the municipalities Lifestat served, said Mutual Aid spokesperson Shawn Penzera.
Lifestat was responsible for emergency calls in Indiana County’s Young Township and Saltsburg Borough; Somerset County’s Conemaugh Township; and Westmoreland County’s Avonmore Borough and Loyalhanna and Bell townships, Penzera said.
Lifestat’s neighboring ambulance services were notified of the termination via the county 911 dispatcher late Saturday, Penzera said.
“We started making phone calls — the folks from Citizens as well as over at Murrysville,” Penzera said.
The closure came with little notice, said spokesperson Matt Stromberg.
“It kind of caught everybody by surprise,” he said.
Temporarily covering calls to Lifestat’s former territory isn’t new for the neighboring services, Penzera said. Mutual Aid often assists other ambulance services if they are tied up with another call.
“We’re not going to let the other communities go without service — simple as that,” Penzera said.
But if municipalities who registered Lifestat as their primary EMS responder don’t select a new service, issues could arise.
“Going forward without having a game plan from the local officials, it could affect everyone down the road,” he said.
Municipalities are required by state law to designate a primary EMS responder to provide an ambulance service for residents.
Financial challenges
Lifestat claimed in its statement insurance companies have increased patients’ out-of-pocket deductibles and copays by $200 to $300 per ambulance ride. The ambulance service said fewer than 5% of its patients have been able to cover the cost increase.
Lifestat said many of its patients qualify for Medicaid, meaning they can often pay less than $100 for Lifestat’s services. Emergency advanced life support calls cost Lifestat more than $400, according to the statement.
The EMS agency also noted a decline in financial support for the service from community members. Multiple requests for financial assistance from local government agencies have not been returned, Lifestat said.
“These challenges are not unique to Lifestat,” the service wrote. “EMS providers across the state are experiencing similar financial hardships.”
Jeannette’s ambulance station shut down without warning in July 2023 after 63 years in service. Officials pointed to insufficient funding and low insurance reimbursement rates. Mutual Aid is stationing an ambulance at Jeannette’s city hall.
Eureka Community Ambulance Service in Tarentum told TribLive in May it will likely have to close or significantly curtail its operations by January unless it gets consistent local, state or federal funding.
For Saltsburg Borough, the future of EMS is yet to be determined, Hruska said.
“At this point, I would say everything’s up in the air,” he said. “There’s definitely no answers right now.”