Latest news with #WestVirginiaEMSCoalition
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
WV EMS Coalition urges WV Legislature to review budget in fear of financial cuts
CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS) – Emergency Medical Services are some of the first people that arrive at the scene of an emergency. Now, the West Virginia EMS Coalition is reaching out to Governor Patrick Morrisey and the West Virginia Legislature, to review the EMS Salary Enhancement Fund. The coalition represents the emergency medical service agencies in 51 counties in the state. The EMS Salary Enhancement Funds is a program that was put in place by the West Virginia Legislature in 2023 to make EMS positions in the state more competitive with neighboring states. Now, the coalition says there is no funding for the 2025 fiscal year budget. Anthony McDaniel, a board member for the WV EMS Coalition, goes into more detail behind the fund. 'Go across the border and sometimes make $10 to close to $20 an hour or more to do essentially the exact same job. So the legislature recognized that as an issue. They set up this fund and they created a different formula depending on how much local contribution was made from individual counties and the type of service they had,' said McDaniel. Local agencies gather donations for those affected by Hurricane Helene A release by the coalition says, unless funds are allocated for the program, EMS workers in West Virginia will lose $9 million dollars. Reduction in salaries, loss of stipends and cuts in retention pay all contribute to the loss of funds. McDaniel said if there are those in the community that want to reach out with support, there are multiple ways to do so. New EMS Treat-in-place law to take effect in the month of May 'Currently, there is a call to action out there to sign a joint letter supporting EMS salary enhancement funds going to go to the governor's office in the legislature. You don't have to be an in-house provider in order to sign that letter stating we recognized that the fund was created. There was actually no money allocated to that fund for the 25 and 26 year,' said McDaniel. The coalition currently has the support of congresswoman Carol Miller for the Ground Ambulance Medical Services act, but is hoping for more support from the West Virginia legislature. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Budgets could cut pay for thousands of EMS workers in West Virginia, coalition says
CLARKSBURG, (WBOY) — The West Virginia EMS Coalition, which represents the emergency medical service agencies in 51 counties in the state, is encouraging West Virginians to contact legislators amid the potential loss of an emergency services pay incentive program that could lead to extreme shortages in the industry. According to the coalition, EMS Salary Enhancement Funds, a program that was put in place by the West Virginia Legislature in 2023 to make EMS positions in the state more competitive with neighboring states, 'has no funding source in the current FY 2025' or the proposed budget for FY 2026. A release from the coalition said that unless funds are allocated for the program, EMS workers in West Virginia will lose $9 million through reduction in salaries, loss of stipends and cuts in retention pay and another million in mental health support. The loss could lead to a 'crippling shortage' of EMS workers in the state, according to the coalition. How recent USDA cuts will affect West Virginia farmers 'EMS agencies are not just competing to recruit and retain EMTs and paramedics against other states, they are also competing for a workforce against other better paying health care professions in West Virginia which offer regular hours, holidays off and a more predictable work environment,' the coalition said. Counties with the most need were the highest recipients of the Salary Enhancement Funds and will be hit hardest if the program is not funded, but all 55 counties would be impacted. The group is urging Gov. Patrick Morrisey (R) and the West Virginia Legislature to create permanent annual funding for EMS in the state, which will allow for continued EMS Salary Enhancement Funds. According to the coalition, the $10 million in retention efforts created by Senate Bill 737 is the only state funding provided for EMS in West Virginia, which is only about 1% of the total annual operating cost. Additional information on the EMS Salary Enhancement Funds and how to contact legislators is available here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
