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Staff recommend two-year extension of ambulance contract as Spokane grapples with paramedic shortages and low reimbursement
Summary
Fire and EMS leaders recommended a two-year extension to the city's ambulance contract to preserve continuity as staffing shortages, rising labor costs and constrained reimbursement complicate transport operations. AMR officials outlined payer-mix challenges and offered to explore alternate funding paths.
Spokane Fire Chief Obert and city staff recommended the City of Spokane extend its ambulance-transport contract for two years rather than pursue an immediate new procurement, citing staffing shortages for paramedics and economic pressure on private providers.
Chief Obert told the Public Safety and Community Health Committee that a two-year extension would ensure continuity of service while staff, council and the vendor study system-level reforms. He cited national staffing and economic challenges and said the city’s current partner has been compliant on response-time performance.
Nut graf: The recommendation is driven by two linked problems: provider staffing shortages that…
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