We need to rescue Kentucky’s rescue services —

The current system is

failing EMS providers

  • THE PROBLEM

    Kentucky’s Emergency Response Alliance (KERA) knows that Kentucky’s emergency medical services (EMS) and the communities they serve are in crisis.

  • Rising Heart Attack Deaths in Kentucky

    Today, Kentucky has among the lowest cardiac arrest survival rates in the country.  

    When a patient has a heart attack, every minute matters. Sudden cardiac arrest is often fatal if it lasts longer than eight minutes without CPR, and survival rates can be as high as 90% when treatment starts within the first five minutes (Cleveland Clinic).  

    Tragically, across rural Kentucky especially, delayed EMS response times due to limited ambulances on the roads cause countless Kentuckians to needlessly lose their lives. Our EMS services need immediate legislative action that equips them with the resources they need to deliver life-saving care. 

  • 91.7% of Kentucky Counties are Impacted by Ambulance Deserts

    91.7% of Kentucky counties are impacted by ambulance deserts, which is defined by places or people that are 25 minutes or more away from an ambulance station (American Ambulance Association). Of those who live in ambulance deserts, 80.5% live in rural communities.

  • Failing Reimbursement Rates

    Thousands of Kentuckians, particularly rural Kentuckians, rely on ambulance services to provide them with lifesaving care, though ambulance services across the state have been struggling for over a decade. EMS agencies reported a 12% increase in supply costs between 2019 and 2022, while reimbursement rates remain stagnant.  

    Alongside reimbursement shortfalls, EMS faces alarming staffing shortages and an overall lack of resources. Many ambulances buckle under the weight of these challenges and are left with no choice but to cease operations, ultimately putting the lives of Kentuckians at risk. 

    Unless reimbursement rates increase, more EMS agencies will be forced to reduce operations or close entirely, disproportionately harming rural Kentuckians.  

THE SOLUTION

KERA calls on our communities and elected officials to support legislation that would ensure fair payment for 911 emergency calls and ban “balance billing.” Kentucky legislators must prioritize appropriate reimbursement for EMS providers to secure care for rural communities.  

With more than 90% of Kentucky’s counties impacted by ambulance deserts, our state can’t afford to see more ambulance providers shut down. By increasing ambulance reimbursement rates, more EMS will operate efficiently, and more Kentuckians’ lives will be saved.