Professional Association of Upper Merion EMS

06/16/2026

Pennsylvania’s EMS system continues to face financial and staffing challenges, and EMS leaders across the Commonwealth have been raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of 911 ambulance services.

Two bills currently before the Pennsylvania General Assembly, House Bill 1152 and Senate Bill 1342, would establish requirements for how health insurers reimburse mandated 911 EMS providers for emergency ambulance services.

HB 1152 has bipartisan sponsorship in the House, and SB 1342 was introduced in the Senate as companion legislation. Both bills are currently awaiting consideration in their respective committees.

Like many issues affecting EMS, there are differing viewpoints on the legislation. However, one thing is certain: EMS agencies are required to answer the call whenever someone dials 911, and maintaining access to emergency medical services remains an important issue for communities across Pennsylvania.

As EMS professionals, we encourage everyone to stay informed and learn more about legislation that could affect the future of emergency medical services in the Commonwealth.

House Bill 1152:
https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/2025/hb1152

Senate Bill 1342:
https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/2025/sb1342

Help Protect EMS in Pennsylvania
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agencies across Pennsylvania are facing a growing financial crisis that threatens their ability to provide lifesaving care to the communities they serve.
Every day, ambulance services respond to emergencies, provide critical medical treatment, and transport patients regardless of their ability to pay. Yet many EMS agencies are not receiving payment for the services they provide because some commercial insurance companies send reimbursement checks directly to patients rather than the ambulance service that delivered the care.
When those payments are not forwarded to the EMS provider, ambulance services are left to absorb the cost of care. This practice imposes a significant financial burden on EMS agencies already struggling with rising operational costs, workforce shortages, increasing call volumes, and inadequate reimbursement rates.
Since August 2022, Western Berks Ambulance Association has been unable to recover more than $940,000 in insurance payments that were issued directly to patients rather than to the EMS provider.
The impact of this practice is substantial and measurable. One patient alone received more than $22,261 in insurance reimbursement checks intended for ambulance services provided by Western Berks Ambulance Association, and the payments were never forwarded to the EMS agency. After Western Berks stopped billing the patient's insurance due to repeated failures to remit payments, the patient began requesting that claims be resubmitted to the insurer, demonstrating the financial incentive created when insurance payments are sent directly to patients rather than healthcare providers.
In another case, a patient retained 17 separate insurance reimbursement checks, each for approximately $470, rather than forwarding payment for ambulance services already provided.
These examples are not isolated incidents. They represent a systemic problem affecting EMS agencies throughout Pennsylvania. When insurance companies pay someone other than the healthcare provider who delivered the service, EMS agencies are forced to absorb substantial losses while continuing to answer every 911 call and provide care to anyone in need.
No healthcare provider should be required to absorb the cost of care simply because an insurance company chose to pay someone other than the organization that provided the service.
To address this issue, Pennsylvania lawmakers have introduced House Bill 1152 and Senate Bill 1342. These bills would require commercial insurance companies to reimburse EMS providers directly and establish a statewide reimbursement schedule for ambulance services.
This legislation would help ensure that EMS agencies receive payment for the care they provide while also protecting patients by eliminating the possibility of balance billing.
We are grateful to the legislators who have recognized the importance of strengthening EMS funding and preserving access to emergency medical care throughout Pennsylvania.
We Need Your Help
Please contact your Pennsylvania State Representative and State Senator and urge them to support House Bill 1152 and Senate Bill 1342.
Tell them that EMS is an essential component of Pennsylvania's healthcare and public safety infrastructure, and that ambulance services deserve fair, direct reimbursement for the care they provide.
Without sustainable funding, EMS agencies will continue to face mounting financial pressures that threaten their ability to maintain staffing, replace ambulances, invest in lifesaving equipment, and remain available when communities need them most.
Strong EMS systems save lives. Your voice can help protect the future of emergency medical services in Berks County and across Pennsylvania.
Take Action Today
Contact your State Representative and State Senator and ask them to support:
• House Bill 1152
• Senate Bill 1342
Together, we can ensure that ambulance services remain available, sustainable, and ready to respond whenever an emergency occurs.

06/11/2026

Heat Illness Can Happen Fast. Know the Difference. Save a Life.

With extreme heat expected across our region, it’s important to recognize the warning signs of Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke before a medical emergency develops.

🔶 Heat Exhaustion

* Heavy sweating
* Weakness or fatigue
* Dizziness
* Nausea
* Muscle cramps
* Cool, pale, clammy skin

Move to a cool place, hydrate, and rest. If symptoms don’t improve within 30–60 minutes, seek medical attention.

🔴 Heat Stroke

* Confusion or altered mental status
* Hot, red skin
* High body temperature
* Rapid pulse
* Seizures or loss of consciousness

🚨 Heat Stroke is a medical emergency. Call 911 immediately.

Stay Safe During the Heat Wave:

💧 Drink water regularly, even if you don’t feel thirsty
🌳 Take frequent breaks in the shade or air conditioning
👕 Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing
☀️ Limit strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day
👥 Check on older adults, children, and vulnerable neighbors
🚗 Never leave children or pets in a vehicle, even for a few minutes

Early recognition and prompt action can save lives.

Stay safe, stay hydrated, and look out for one another.

Working Together. Keeping Each Other Safe.

06/01/2026

May was another busy month for the EMS professionals of Local 5339.

Our crews responded to 387 total EMS incidents, completed 282 transports, and maintained an average response time of 7 minutes, 34 seconds throughout the month.

The data also shows the steady demand placed on our EMS system every day, with cardiac emergencies leading as the top dispatch nature for May.

These numbers represent more than call volume. They represent patients cared for, families supported, and crews showing up around the clock for the community.

Professionalism • Service • Commitment

05/25/2026

Memorial Day

Today, we honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country.

Their sacrifice protects the freedoms we live with every day. We remember them, we honor them, and we will never forget them.

From IAFF Local 5339, we extend our respect and gratitude to the fallen, their families, and all who continue to carry their memory forward.

We remember. We honor. We will never forget. 🇺🇸

05/19/2026

🚑 WE’RE HIRING ONE FULL-TIME PARAMEDIC🚑

Join our team on a Pitman schedule with 12-hour shifts from 8am–8pm.

Week One:
• Monday
• Wednesday
• Thursday

Week Two:
• Tuesday
• Friday
• Saturday
• Sunday

Enjoy a built-in rotating schedule with every other weekend off.

Anything worked over 40 hours per week is paid as overtime.

If you’re looking to join a hardworking and dedicated team, we’d love to hear from you.

To apply, please email your resume and cover letter to:
[email protected]

05/17/2026

EMS Week 2026 begins today, and Local 5339 proudly recognizes the providers who answer the call every day.

EMS is often measured in calls, response times, transports, and outcomes. But behind every response is an individual who gives far beyond the hours on a schedule.

Our providers miss family time. They work nights, weekends, holidays, and long shifts. They carry the weight of difficult calls, critical decisions, traumatic scenes, and moments most people never see. They show up for strangers on their worst days, often while setting aside their own stress, fatigue, and personal struggles.

They are clinicians, problem-solvers, advocates, teachers, teammates, and steady hands in moments of fear and uncertainty. They bring skill, compassion, and calm into homes, roadways, businesses, schools, and every place where help is needed.

This week, we honor the dedication of our brothers and sisters and thank them for the work they do for our community. Their commitment does not end when the call clears. It continues through training, documentation, quality improvement, station duties, public education, and the quiet mental load that comes with this profession.

To every EMS provider who helps make this system work: Thank YOU.

Your service matters. Your sacrifices matter.

Happy EMS Week 2026.

Upper Merion Township Fire & EMS
International Association of Fire Fighters

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day from IAFF Local 5339.

Today, we honor all mothers, grandmothers, stepmothers, foster mothers, mothers-in-law, and mother figures who give so much of themselves to their families and communities.

We also recognize the mothers within the fire and EMS service. Many balance long shifts, missed holidays, sleepless nights, and the demands of public safety while still showing up for their families with love and strength.

To the mothers of our members, the mothers raising our future generations, and the mothers who support first responders behind the scenes: thank you.

Your love, sacrifice, patience, and support do not go unnoticed.

Happy Mother’s Day. ❤️

05/03/2026

May is Stroke Awareness Month and for EMS professionals, rapid stroke recognition and treatment can make the difference between recovery and permanent disability.

Every day, the members of IAFF Local 5339 respond to patients experiencing possible stroke symptoms throughout Upper Merion Township and surrounding communities. From frontline paramedics and EMTs to our Mobile Stroke Unit clinicians, our crews work quickly to identify strokes, begin treatment, and get patients to the right level of care without delay.

Stroke treatment starts long before a patient reaches the hospital.

That means:

Rapid recognition of symptoms
Early notification to receiving facilities
Advanced assessments in the field
Coordinated care with hospital stroke teams
Utilizing resources like the Mobile Stroke Unit when available

Know the signs of stroke and act BEFAST:

Balance problems or sudden dizziness
Eyes: sudden vision changes
Face drooping
Arm weakness
Speech difficulty
Time to call 911

Additional warning signs can include:

Sudden confusion or altered mental status
Severe headache
Numbness or weakness
Difficulty walking or coordination problems

The faster treatment begins, the better the chance for recovery.

During Stroke Awareness Month, we encourage our community to learn the warning signs, call 911 immediately for stroke symptoms, and never attempt to drive yourself or a loved one to the hospital during a suspected stroke.

Thank you to our EMS crews, Mobile Stroke Unit teams, dispatchers, nurses, physicians, and hospital partners who work together every day to improve outcomes for stroke patients across our region.

Seconds matter. Stroke care starts with rapid EMS response.

58 likes. "Stroke awareness can save lives, act F.A.S.T to improve outcomes"

12/17/2025

Congratulations!