PRINCESS ANNE, MD — Efforts to transition emergency medical services (EMS) from the Princess Anne Volunteer Fire Company (PAVFD) to Somerset County continue.
The PAVFD announced in January plans to terminate its ambulance service on July 1 due to a significant deficit from low Medicare and Medicaid payments. The County and fire company later agreed to extend ambulance service until December 31, 2025, to allow the County time to establish its own EMS.
During Tuesday's Commissioners meeting, members of the PAVFD Board of Directors presented a deal to sell their four ambulances and accompanying life-saving equipment to the County for $750,000.
Sidney Merrill, a 63-year volunteer firefighter and former EMT, attended the meeting. Merill said the state of EMS service in Somerset County has grown.
"Back in 1958, the Princess Anne Lions Club came to the fire company ... and they said they would supply an ambulance," Merrill said. "Now we have four ambulances, and this morning, in one-half hour, we had five calls."
PAVFD said they are regularly paid $20-$170 for transports billed to Medicare and Medicaid at over $1,000. Fire Company President Lemuel White, Jr. said this shortfall was starting to affect the job security of their employees.
"We would love for our employees to get all the benefits that we want them to get because they deserve it," White, Jr., said. "The best thing that we could do was to ask the County if they would want to take it over."
The 17 EMTs currently employed by the fire company will become employees of Somerset County at the end of April. Commissioners discussed renting the firehouse from the PAVFD for $2,500 a month to run the ambulance service until it can secure another facility.
The PAVFD Board agreed, with the caveat that the County must purchase the four ambulances for $650,000 and additional equipment for $100,000 in lieu of buying the vehicles elsewhere.
Commissioner Craig N. Mathies, Sr., said the County must balance its fiscal responsibility with its responsibility to provide reliable EMS.
"You can't put a price on a person's life," Mathies, Sr., said.
The commissioners further considered the proposal in a closed session following Tuesday's meeting. Commission President Charles Laird assured PAVFD Board members that they would have a decision about purchasing the ambulances and equipment by the end of the day on Tuesday.
"No one wants to spend a dime on anything, but we're talking about lives," President Laird said.
PAVFD and County Commissioners maintain that they will continue collaborating closely throughout the transition to ensure there is no lapse in service to the people of Somerset County.