Las Cruces and Dona Ana County assess challenges with AMR ambulance services

Emergency ambulance services took center stage during the recent CLC/DAC Joint Work Session, highlighting significant concerns over the performance of American Medical Response (AMR) in Las Cruces and Doña Ana County. Assistant County Manager Steven Lopez reported that the county has faced a substantial impact on its fire and rescue operations, with AMR failing to meet response time standards and leaving the county to transport an average of 225 patients monthly over the last four months of 2024.

Lopez emphasized the financial strain on the county, noting that they are not only subsidizing AMR with a $3 million contract but also losing out on potential revenue from ambulance services that could have generated over $1.4 million annually. This situation arises from a lease agreement where the county has ceded its ambulance certificate to AMR, which is set to expire in February 2026.

City Attorney Brad Douglas provided context on the history of the contract, explaining that the city had previously negotiated with the county and AMR to establish a unified ambulance service. However, he pointed out that AMR has consistently failed to meet the required response times, leading to potential liquidated damages estimated at around $450,000 for the first quarter alone.

The meeting underscored the urgent need for a reevaluation of the current ambulance service agreement, as both city and county officials expressed a desire to address these ongoing issues. As discussions continue, the future of emergency medical services in the region remains uncertain, with officials seeking solutions to improve response times and service reliability.