Westmoreland Review

Rep. Jill Cooper of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, has introduced new legislation addressing the financial challenges faced by state-mandated emergency medical services. This initiative, dubbed House Bill 1152, seeks to reform the current funding structure that has led to the closure of numerous EMS companies across Pennsylvania.

Rep. Cooper highlighted the urgency of the situation in her statement: “Our EMS providers are in a crisis right now, and if we don't take urgent action, we risk facing a terrifying reality that when someone calls 911 for help, there might not be anyone available to respond.” She referenced the closure of an EMS company in her district after 36 years and noted that 47 ambulance companies closed in 2023-2024 due to similar fiscal challenges.

The proposed bill targets the financial issues by demanding that insurers pay 350% of the current rate set by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services for state-mandated 911 calls. This measure applies even if the EMS agency is not within the network, eliminating the practice of "balance billing" or "surprise billing," where patients bear the cost difference not covered by their insurance.

“For decades, our communities have enjoyed the peace of mind in knowing that an ambulance would respond when an emergency arises,” Cooper said. “But readiness comes at a steep price and the reality is that every time an ambulance is deployed, under the current funding model, a financial loss occurs."

The bill already has the backing of 30 bipartisan co-sponsors. Rep. Cooper, who serves as co-chair of the bipartisan House Fire and EMS Caucus, emphasized that Monday's press conference was aimed at promoting legislative actions focused on securing better funding for emergency service organizations, ensuring personnel safety, and advancing workforce development.

House Bill 1152 has been referred to the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee for further consideration.

For more information, please contact Media Representative Jordan Frei at 724.875.8450 or jfrei@pahousegop.com. Further details can be found at RepJillCooper.com or Facebook.com/RepJillCooper.