Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic
America’s front-line first responders, including paramedics, EMTs, and critical care nurses, are the very first medical professionals seen by all citizens that access healthcare using the 9-1-1 system.
Shockingly, Washington has forgotten all about them as the virus spreads, and our emergency response providers are being infected with COVID-19. Ambulance services are the public health and safety net for our country, but they have only gotten one tenth of the relief they are owed. Some are even being forced to shut down operations in communities across our country.
Ambulance services have also been treating more and more patients at home for ailments like diabetes and asthma because emergency rooms are full. They have not been reimbursed for these critical services.