EMS providers sound warning over ambulance staffing shortages, reimbursement dollars

[KARE11 News, January 19, 2023] Minnesota's emergency medical service providers gathered at the State Capitol Thursday to sound a warning, saying increasing pressure on EMTs and paramedics are driving people out of the field, while demands for services keep increasing.

Industry officials and advocates held a press conference after meeting with lawmakers to urge action that will increase support for ambulance services across the state.

The Minnesota Ambulance Association (MAA) says that federal support for ambulance services began decreasing in the 1980s while the cost of operations has steadily increased, maintaining that running just one ambulance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week costs close to $1 million annually.

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