The EMS Crisis: Why We Must Act Now

Across Pennsylvania, and here in our own Alle-Kiski Valley, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are in crisis. Local ambulance providers are facing a perfect storm of rising costs, declining reimbursements, and critical staffing shortages.

  • Funding Gaps: Insurance reimbursements only cover about 40–60% of the true cost of an ambulance transport. When EMS treats someone on scene but doesn’t transport, payment is often zero

  • Unsustainable Model: Donations and subscription programs, once a lifeline, are no longer sufficient. Volunteerism has sharply declined, leaving fewer trained providers to answer calls

  • Public Safety at Risk: Without change, our community’s 18,000 residents face the real possibility of slower response times, reduced coverage, and gaps in critical care during emergencies

EMS is not optional; it is required by law, and it is essential for every family’s safety. Yet under the current system, it is simply not financially or operationally sustainable.

A Proposal to Save EMS

To ensure EMS is there when you need it, our four municipalities, Brackenridge, East Dee, Harrison, and Tarentum, are proposing the creation of the Alle-Kiski Emergency Services Authority (AKESA).

This new public authority will bring EMS under a unified regional structure, modeled after other successful authorities in Pennsylvania, such as water and sewer systems

What AKESA Will Do:

  • Guarantee reliable, 24/7 EMS service for all residents.

  • Keep local control and local jobs while ensuring fairness across all four towns.

  • Standardize training, equipment, and response protocols for consistent, high-quality care.

  • Replace fragile donations with a transparent and affordable EMS fee ensuring stable funding for years to come

How You Benefit

  • Peace of Mind: You and your loved ones will know an ambulance will always be there when you dial 911.

  • Fairness: Everyone contributes a small, manageable amount to keep EMS sustainable, instead of relying on shrinking donations.

  • Transparency: AKESA will hold public meetings, publish reports, and operate openly under Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Law.

  • Stability: By pooling resources and staff, the Authority will eliminate duplication, reduce costs, and create a system built for long-term success

We Need Your Support

This is about more than budgets and structures; it’s about saving lives. Without bold action, the EMS system that protects our neighbors, families, and seniors is at risk of collapse.

By standing behind the creation of the Alle-Kiski Emergency Services Authority, you are helping secure a safer future for our region.

Together, we can save EMS.

Emergency Medical Servies You Can Count On

  • 24/7 Emergency Care
  • Advanced Training
  • Community Engagement 

About Us – Alle-Kiski Emergency Services Authority (AKESA)

The PROPOSED Alle-Kiski Emergency Serv ices Authority (AKESA) is a regional partnership dedicated to delivering responsive, reliable, and professional emergency medical services to the communities we serve. Formed through intermunicipal cooperation, AKESA brings together local governments, first responders, and healthcare professionals to ensure high-quality pre-hospital care for every resident, visitor, and business in the Alle-Kiski Valley.

At the heart of AKESA is a shared commitment to public safety, operational excellence, and community trust. By consolidating resources, standardizing service delivery, and building a sustainable model for emergency response, we are strengthening the region’s EMS capabilities today — and for generations to come.

Our mission is simple: To provide life-saving care with speed, skill, and compassion.

We serve as a model for regional collaboration and innovation, committed to ensuring that no call goes unanswered and no resident is left behind.