A private ambulance provider serving southern West Virginia and eastern Kentucky has cut its workforce in half and closed multiple stations, citing a reimbursement crisis.
Patriot EMS shut down operations in Mingo County, West Virginia, and in Magoffin and Floyd counties, Kentucky. The company says low reimbursement rates from Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers — along with delayed payments tied to the recent government shutdown — forced the cuts.
Patriot, a for-profit provider that receives no direct government subsidy, says the reductions were necessary to prevent a total collapse of services after unsuccessful funding talks with county leaders, according to WCHS TV.
Employees, however, report delayed paychecks, little notice of layoffs, and concerns about longer response times — in some rural areas, now potentially exceeding 45 minutes.