Pa. lawmakers, EMS leaders gather to discuss funding, reimbursement

By Leila Merrill

PITTSBURGH — A group of Democratic Pennsylvania lawmakers hosted a roundtable discussion with EMS leaders recently to discuss issues facing the state’s EMS agencies.

State Sen. Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), chairwoman of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee; Sen. Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny); and other lawmakers were there, MyChesCo reported. The event was at the Community College of Allegheny County.

Participants included Greg Porter, assistant director of Ross/West View EMS; Eric Schmidt, chief of Shaler Hampton Township EMS; Douglas Pascoe, chief of South East Regional EMS; Bill Miller, chief of McKeesport Area EMS Rescue; Jim Erb, EMS supervisor for Citizens Hose Ambulance Service; and Todd Plunket, chief of Baldwin EMS.

Participants discussed issues such as state funding, reimbursement, recruitment and retention.