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EMS workers say city is not reinvesting ambulance billing revenue; urge funding, staffing changes
Summary
Two Cleveland EMS representatives told council that ambulance-billing revenue raised millions but that only a small share is returning to EMS, and they urged the city to restore higher minimum ambulance staffing to reduce closures and response times.
Two representatives of the Cleveland Association of Rescue Employees used public comment to urge Council to direct more ambulance-billing revenue back into Cleveland EMS and to restore prior minimum staffing levels for ambulances.
“Only 4% of those funds are going back into EMS,” Timothy Summerfeld said, referring to recent billing collections. “When people pay an EMS bill, they expect that that money is gonna go back into improving emergency medical service.”
Chrissy Miller, also speaking for the union, described operations and staffing changes she traced to past budget decisions and the 0.5 percent income-tax increase known to residents as Issue 32. Miller said the city previously cited funds from Issue 32 to expand daytime ambulances and that later staffing minimums dropped; she asked council where Issue 32 funds were allocated after staffing numbers were reduced. “Potential idea with those funds, change the minimal staffing back to 25 during the day and 21 to help reduce our response times,” Miller said.
Both speakers described equipment and facility needs: Summerfeld said EMS bases had facility damage — he referenced a sewer pipe failure that forced staff to use improvised furniture — and that ambulances are sometimes parked outside during winter because facilities are inadequate. Miller said the billing vendor change to QMC had brought in funds; she said roughly $19 million had been collected under the new vendor and that testimony at the meeting described only a small percentage returning to EMS while an outside billing company receives a stated fee percentage.
Neither comment resulted in formal council action recorded in the public-comment portion of the transcript. Speakers requested that council examine the city’s use of ambulance-billing revenue, consider returning a greater share to the EMS division, and restore higher minimum staffing levels to reduce ambulance closures and response times.
Ending: Council received sustained public comment calling for a reallocation of EMS billing revenue and for restoration of prior minimum staffing to improve response times; the transcript does not record a subsequent council vote or directive on these requests during the public-comment period.
