Erie, PA – Pennsylvania’s EMS professionals respond to more than 2.2 million calls a year, providing critical and timely care for residents. Today, Department of Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen highlighted how investments of approximately $56 million from the Shapiro Administration over the past three years have helped EMS agencies meet the urgent medical needs of Pennsylvanians.
Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2026-2027 proposed budget includes an additional $6 million investment from the EMS Operating Fund (EMSOF) that will allow EMS professionals to enhance care, improve patient health, and fund initiatives to recruit and retain EMS professionals.
“To provide quality emergency care to Pennsylvanians, EMS professionals must be given the support and tools they need,” said Secretary Bogen. “This investment will help ensure EMS agencies can acquire state-of-the-art equipment, like video laryngoscopes and conduct the training needed to use it effectively and efficiently to ensure the best possible outcomes. These funds will also support vital efforts to recruit and retain EMS professionals here in the commonwealth.”
This additional investment of $6 million in the 2026-2027 proposed budget would help Pennsylvania’s 13 regional EMS councils support local EMS agencies in purchasing equipment that improves patient care across the Commonwealth. Each EMS regional council will evaluate the needs of the agencies in its area to determine how best to use the funding.
During Secretary Bogen’s visit to Erie’s EmergyCare EMS Agency, Emergency Medical Management Cooperative (EMMCO) West regional council staff demonstrated the new tools they purchased for the region, such as video laryngoscopes and patient lifting equipment. These tools will help improve care and efficiency when EMS professionals are administering care in the field and reduce EMS staff injuries.
“This funding is allowing us to take a balanced, strategic approach to strengthening EMS across our region,” said Emergency Medical Management Cooperative West (EMMCO West) Operations Manager, Daryl Parker. “These tools are not just equipment; they are retention strategies that help us preserve the workforce we already have while we continue to recruit the next generation. Ultimately, this investment strengthens both patient care and provider sustainability, which is exactly what our communities are counting on.”
This region covers more than 100 agencies within the EMMCO region, including Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties.
In the EMMCO region, the average EMS professional is over 50 years old. Securing new moving and lifting equipment for agencies will help protect first responders in the region from injury while on duty, so they can continue providing essential, 24/7 care for residents.
“Investments like these have a direct and meaningful impact on our ability to protect our communities,” said City of Meadville Fire Chief Even Kardosh. “Every day, lives are saved because of the dedication of EMS professionals across the Commonwealth, and the continued support of Emergency Medical Services by Governor Shapiro ensures we can sustain that mission and have the appropriate life-saving equipment when our communities need it most."
Other regional councils have purchased equipment with 2025-2026 funds. The EMS West Regional EMS council obtained video laryngoscopes and demonstrated how they will save time for EMS professionals performing field intubations.
Similarly, Southern Alleghenies Emergency Medical Services (SAEMS) Regional Council secured intravenous (IV) pumps to deliver fluids and medications to patients. This marks a significant upgrade in efficiency and safety for the region as EMS professionals have traditionally administered fluids manually.
The Shapiro Administration understands the vital role EMS plays in Pennsylvania’s health care system. In 2023, Governor Shapiro signed Act 15 into law, increasing the rate at which ambulances are reimbursed for the miles traveled to an incident scene or hospital. Reimbursement rates support a majority of EMS operations and are the primary source of funding for ambulances to remain in service.
The Department of Health also launched a three-year tuition assistance program in 2024, helping EMS agencies retain the appropriate number of staff to successfully respond to residents’ calls for medical assistance. Individuals who earn an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT), or Paramedic certification can be provided up to $5,000 in tuition reimbursement tuition.
EMS agencies are eligible to receive up to $5,000 in reimbursement per fiscal year for expenses related to recruitment and retention efforts.
Read an overview of Governor Shapiro’s 2026-2027 budget proposal or explore the full Budget in Brief here.
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