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Public commenter warns of ambulance shortages in several rural parishes
Summary
A community member who said he represents EMS Reform told the task force several rural parishes lack continuous ambulance service and urged regional solutions and removal of monopoly clauses that hinder EMS competition.
NEW ORLEANS (not specified) — During public comment at the ACR 55 task force meeting, Walter Beach, who identified his nonprofit as EMS Reform, said ambulance service is intermittent or absent in several rural parishes and urged regional, public solutions.
Beach told the task force Catahoula Parish went eight months without ambulance service and that Saint Helena Parish faces an upcoming police-jury vote on providing ambulance coverage. He said monopoly provisions in some parish contracts discourage EMT retention and reduce competition.
"One of the solutions I'd like to bring is maybe a conglomerate of the rural parishes getting together and to provide ambulance service," Beach said. He recommended public models that can access grants and other public funding.
The task force chair thanked Beach and said EMS gaps fit into the broader rural delivery model discussion. The comment was recorded for the task force record; no formal action was taken at the meeting.
