Patriot EMS Says Financial Woes Are to Blame for Recent Shutdowns
STAFF REPORT
BSN
Financial crisis is cited for the recent shutdown of three Patriot Emergency Medical Services stations.
Those services will cease in Floyd and Magoffin counties in Kentucky and Mingo County West Virginia.
The company made the announcement in a press release on Feb. 14, of the closures, major consolidations and restructuring of its other stations after mounting financial pressures caused by inadequate reimbursement rates from Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance payors, as well as delayed payments tied to recent government shutdown disruptions.
The press release went on to explain that ambulance providers across the United States are facing unprecedented economic strain. Unlike fire-based or municipally funded EMS systems, private ambulance services receive no direct government subsidy and must rely almost entirely on reimbursement revenue to sustain operations. Reimbursement rates have not kept pace with the true cost of delivering emergency medical care, leaving many providers nationwide struggling to survive.
Patriot EMS owner Krista Ellison told The Big Sandy News the closures would only effect Lawrence County in a positive way and the county would in fact be receiving an additional “truck”.
However, after agreeing to an interview, Ellison declined when asked about those in Lawrence County who lost their jobs because of the shutdowns in other areas and other questions she refused to comment on.
In an email her statement was “Just use the press release. We have no further comment at this time.”
As part of its restructuring plan, Patriot EMS will reduce its workforce by approximately 50% in order to maintain core community operations and preserve essential emergency response capabilities in remaining service areas.
The press release stated that Patriot EMS currently has approximately $5.1 million in outstanding accounts receivable, significantly impacting cash flow and operational sustainability. Of that amount, Kentucky Medicaid, Anthem, and Wellcare are the major payors that are not issuing reimbursement in appropriate time frames. Recent federal government shutdown disruptions delayed Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements, compounding an already critical financial situation. “Emergency medical services cannot operate like traditional businesses,” added Krista Ellison. “We respond to every call, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. But when reimbursement is delayed or insufficient, the financial burden becomes unsustainable.” Patriot EMS has approached multiple county governments seeking financial assistance or subsidy partnerships to help offset operational deficits. Despite numerous discussions, no funding agreements were secured. Across the nation, private ambulance companies are facing similar challenges. Without structural reimbursement reform or local government subsidy models, many communities risk losing essential emergency medical transport services
And despite these reductions, Patriot EMS remains committed to maintaining reliable emergency response services within its remaining coverage areas. The consolidation is intended to preserve core operations, protect clinical quality, and ensure long-term sustainability wherever possible. “We remain dedicated to serving our communities,” said Ellison. “However, systemic changes are urgently needed to ensure that private EMS providers can continue delivering lifesaving care.”
In neighboring Martin County, their main concern is a shutdown in their area because unlike Floyd, Lawrence and Boyd counties, which have additional service contracts, including LifeGuard and Emergent Care, or Prestonsburg, which operates its own service through its fire department, Martin County no back-up.
Martin County Judge Executive Lon Lafferty voiced his concerns for his county in a statement.
“I not only serve as the county judge, but I’m also a physician who knows full well the importance of having an ambulance respond when there’s a medical emergency,” Lafferty said. “It’s not uncommon for my office to call 911 for an ambulance because we have a patient who is in a medical crisis, such as a heart attack or stroke. You only have a certain ‘window of opportunity’ and that ‘golden hour’ you hear about to transfer the patient to a medical center for specialized treatment.”
Patriot EMS employees who were terminated and have not been paid received a letter, signed “Patriot EMS Leadership Team,” encouraging them to file for unemployment. It said information about final pay and benefits would follow in separate correspondence.
Some Patriot employees have contacted Eddie Slone, executive director of the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services (KBEMS), about missed paychecks and he referred them to labor authorities.
“That is not something we oversee, although it is very concerning,” Slone said. “We are responsible for ensuring high-quality emergency medical services in Kentucky by licensing ambulance services, certifying EMS personnel and setting training standards. We also oversee compliance, investigate complaints and manage state grant funding.”
“This decision is one of the most difficult in our company’s history,” said Ellison. “Our employees are dedicated professionals who serve their communities with compassion and skill. However, without meaningful reimbursement reform or local funding support, we are left with no alternative but to scale operations to remain viable.”
Patriot Emergency Medical Services provides emergency and non-emergency medical transportation services in Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. The company employs certified EMTs and paramedics and states it is committed to delivering safe, timely and professional patient care.