Latest News from State Capitol and 55th District

October 16, 2026

Sounding the Alarm for Fire, Ambulance Services

If emergency alarms came with statistics, there are two that I find particularly loud and are the reason why I hosted a House Republican Policy Committee hearing this week, titled Protecting Pennsylvania: Strengthening Fire and Emergency Medical Services. Policy hearings give lawmakers an opportunity to hear directly from stakeholders and professionals on pressing issues. That information can then be used to draft legislation.

So, what are those alarms?

In the 1970s, Pennsylvania had nearly 300,000 volunteer firefighters. That number is now close to 37,000, a roughly 88% decline.

During 2023-24, 47 Pennsylvania ambulance companies closed their doors. Two of those closures included two regional departments, Lifestat Ambulance in Saltsburg and Jeannette EMS.

More alarms to demonstrate the problem: More than half of all EMS agencies in Pennsylvania have been operating with budget deficits in recent years, according to statewide EMS studies, and 90% of Pennsylvania’s 2,400 fire companies rely on volunteers.

Forbes Road Volunteer Fire Department Chief Robert Rosatti was one of the testifiers and explained that the loss of manpower is seen during standard daylight fire alarms, when as many as one-quarter of Westmoreland County’s fire departments are called upon to either assist at the scene or to serve as standby for another department.

“A one alarm fire turns into a four-alarm fire just because of manpower,” Chief Rosatti explained.

Murrysville Chief Administrator Michael Nestico reminded House members that volunteer firefighting does not mean it comes without a cost. Financial contributions by local governments to emergency services vary. It should be noted that while state law does not compel municipalities to operate services directly, laws do require the maintenance and support of essential emergency services by providing funding, oversight, accountability, and structured collaboration with service providers.

 “When an agency closes, its calls do not disappear,” reminded Gary Watters, who serves as EMS Chief for Altoona-based AMED and president of the Ambulance Association of Pennsylvania. He further explained that neighboring ambulance services will be called upon, who are also likely to be stretched as thin as the company that had no other choice than to close.

This problem will not go away on its own. Therefore, I introduced a bill that will go a long way in assisting EMS agencies to continue the same protection and peace of mind that we have enjoyed for decades.

There is a common misconception that insurance companies cover EMS costs. However, while a patient’s insurance can be billed, rarely does the insurance company reimburse the actual costs. In the end, every time an ambulance is deployed, under the current funding model, a financial loss occurs.

As a co-chair of the bipartisan House Fire and EMS Caucus, I introduced House Bill 1152. It would require insurers to reimburse the ambulance service directly and applies only to state-mandated 911 calls, regardless of whether the EMS agency is in network. The bill also prohibits the practice of requiring patients to pay the difference between the total cost of services and the amount the insurance company pays, commonly known as “balance billing” or “surprise billing,” would be prohibited.

The bill has drawn support from 72 co-sponsors from both sides of the political aisle but has not been considered by the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee.

To help volunteer fire departments recruit and retain personnel, I was happy to support  Act 33 of 2025, which aims to improve the training and education requirements to make achieving Firefighter I certification more manageable for trainees. Also enacted was Act 25 of 2025, which provides a means for the Office of the State Fire Commissioner to recognize on-the-job training a firefighter trainee may already have and count it toward their certification.

No matter how you describe the problem, we must recognize these problems did not come about overnight. Therefore, addressing them will likely take many approaches, developed with the input from the heroes who live this work every day.

More importantly, we must also recognize the real concerns with longer emergency response times. When we call 911, we expect a prompt and professional response, which for generations we have come to depend on. However, failure to take appropriate action now will create disastrous consequences later.

You can watch the hearing by clicking here.

I also want to remind you that most ambulance services offer subscription plans for you and your family. If ever in need of services, subscribers are then safeguarded from any expenses not covered by their insurance. Contact your local ambulance provider for more information.

If you are interested in volunteering to be part of their local fire department and not sure who to contact, click here to learn more.


Here are some additional news topics and reminders I would like to share.
 
Veterans, Mark Your Calendars for Oct. 31! - If you’re a veteran, be certain to mark your calendar for my annual Veterans Appreciation Breakfast on Saturday, Oct. 31, 8:30-11 a.m. Open to all veterans in the 55th District and one guest each, the event includes retired Rear Adm. Charles Kubic as guest speaker. He served in the U.S. Navy for 34 years and established Kubic Engineer Group in 2012. Register by Oct. 26 by emailing aadams@pahousegop.com, or calling 724-472-4102 or 724-387-9113.

Help Available During Medicare Open Enrollment - Medicare’s annual open enrollment period is underway, and the Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA) is reminding people they can receive free, unbiased help understanding their options by talking with specially trained Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight (PA MEDI) counselors.

PA MEDI counselors can help older adults make informed health insurance decisions that best fit their needs and budgets. They can also determine if an older adult may be eligible for any of Pennsylvania’s Medicare cost-savings programs, such as PACE/PACENET or Extra Help. The counselors do not sell insurance products, nor do they endorse or recommend any insurance company, product or agent. 

For more information, Westmoreland County residents should contact the Westmoreland County Area Agency on Aging at 724-830-4444  or locate a PA MEDI event in your area by visiting the Pennsylvania Department of Aging’s website. More information is available by calling the toll-free PA MEDI helpline at 1-800-783-7067 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Medicare Open Enrollment lasts until Monday, Dec. 7.



Representative Jill Cooper
55th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jordan Frei
724.875.8450
jfrei@pahousegop.com