State audit finds 52 local CARES programs but warns of funding, coordination and measurement gaps

The state auditor—s office told the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee that 52 fire-agency-led CARES programs operate across Washington but many areas still lack services and the programs face significant funding and coordination problems.

Auditors Michelle Fellowes, performance auditor, and Laurie R. Garretson, who led the audit, told JLARC that CARES programs——mobile integrated health, community paramedicine and co-response models——aim to reduce nonemergency 911 calls and avoidable emergency department visits while connecting residents to social and primary-care resources. "When it's for a true medical emergency, fire agencies' EMTs and paramedics can respond to provide life saving care. But when it's not, the EMTs and paramedics' specialized skills aren't put to good use," Fellows said during the presentation.

The audit found substantial geographic variation: two-thirds of counties lead at least one program, King County led 11 programs, Pierce and Snohomish counties led several, and some counties—including Stevens and Yakima—had no…