Volunteer fire and ambulance groups ask for higher unit grants, training funds and wellness support; mobile integrated health program seeks $210,000

Representatives of Worcester County volunteer fire and ambulance companies presented a package of FY2026 requests aimed at strengthening rural companies, training capacity and responder wellness.

Scott Wolpin, president of the Worcester County Firefighters Association, summarized coalition requests including an increase in annual support for five rural companies (Stockton, Girdletree, Newark, Shell, Bishopville) from $7,000 to $10,000 per company; an increase in the county fire/EMS training fund from $10,000 to $15,000 to cover rising training costs; preservation of an $8,000 tuition-reimbursement program for EMS education; and a proposed 4% increase to the wellness reimbursement pool, bringing total wellness funding to $31,200 to help cover required annual physicals and cancer screenings.

Wolpin said the changes are driven by higher training and equipment costs and the ongoing challenge of recruiting and retaining volunteers across rural stations. "We need more firefighters, more EMTs, more paramedics in the community," he told commissioners.

Separately, the county heard a presentation about the Mobile Integrated Community Health (MICH) program, a nurse- and paramedic-led initiative originally funded through a Rural Maryland Council grant and later by a four-year HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration) award that expires at the end of the month. Harvey (no last name provided), who described the program’s operations, said the MICH team has demonstrated reductions in EMS usage and hospital utilization among persistently high-use (“frequent flyer”) patients: data provided to commissioners showed a 36% reduction in EMS calls for patients who remained enrolled at least six months and lower overall health-care costs for participants when CRISP data were analyzed.

MICH staff asked the county to consider annual support of $210,000 to expand the program to a five-day-per-week operation, cover paramedic safety equipment and vehicle expenses, and maintain nursing staff already pledged by the Worcester County Health Department. Presenters said Atlantic General Hospital committed $35,000 for the current year and the health department would retain two nurses; the requested county funds would be part of a multi-source funding plan but are needed to sustain and expand services after HRSA grant funding ends.

Commissioners asked for documentation of the MICH program’s outcomes and its return on investment; presenters provided hospital and EMS utilization data and said they continue to seek grant funding and private support. Commissioners signaled interest but did not commit funding during the session.