Imagine you or someone you’re with suffers a medical emergency, but there are no available ambulances when you call 911. Unfortunately, it has become reality. Emergency service providers fear it’s only going to get worse.

Mohawk Ambulance dispatchers handle more than 70,000 emergency calls every year. Over the past six years, since the pandemic, the workforce has shrunk by roughly 18%.

Expenses and new equipment purchases have also shot up faster than the rate of inflation.

Much of the funding for emergency medical service comes from either Medicaid or Medicare. However,

Medicaid reimbursements come at a much lower repayment rate than Medicare.

It’s a trajectory that the EMS industry said is unsustainable. Until EMTs are considered essential service providers and until they receive help from the New York State Legislature, they fear their own industry is on life support.

Hear what some fear could happen if things don’t change by watching the video of Dan Levy’s story.

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