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Cheshire County commissioners discuss extending EMT leave, broader EMS funding and staffing concerns
Summary
At a Cheshire County Commissioners meeting, a commissioner requested an extension of leave for an EMT through December and commissioners discussed countywide ambulance funding, low reimbursement rates, staffing shortfalls and outreach to state officials; the extension request drew a recorded affirmative vote from three commissioners.
A Cheshire County commissioner asked the board to extend an EMT’s leave through December so the employee can complete recovery and return to work on Jan. 1, the commissioner said during the meeting. Commissioners voted in favor of the extension, with Commissioners Weltman, England and Clark recorded as voting yes.
The request opened a broader discussion about ambulance service funding and staffing across Cheshire County. A commissioner said one local town pays about $100,000 a year for ambulance coverage but that some towns are questioning the cost. The commissioner said the county bills roughly $7,000,000 annually but that receipts are “much lower than that,” and that private ambulance providers face financial strain; the speaker also said a prior provider carried about $2,000,000 in debt.
Commissioners and speakers said low reimbursement rates from Medicare and Medicaid have reduced provider revenues and contributed to shortages of certified medics. The transcript included a statement by Ryan Hornblower — identified in the meeting as having worked for local EMS services — that on many shifts he was the only medic on duty in Cheshire County.
Participants discussed options for stabilizing coverage, including better local town buy-in and continued state- and national-level advocacy to increase reimbursement. The board noted the county chief has already reached out to a state senator and that staff would follow up with the chief and with local officials; a commissioner said he would send materials to an official named Andy and hoped the chief could speak to a town select board.
No ordinance, contract or new funding allocation was adopted at the meeting; the extension of the EMT’s leave was the only recorded personnel-related action tied to the EMS discussion during this session.
Several speakers emphasized that sustaining countywide ambulance coverage will require addressing billing and reimbursement levels and securing consistent contributions from towns that benefit from services.
