COLUMBUS — Emergency Medical Services are one of the only areas of health care that are being directly affected by soaring gas prices, and they are in search of solutions.
The state’s average gas price is now more than five dollars. In Central Ohio, it’s no different.
“It’s a squeeze on everyone that’s what it is,” said Ken Truax, general manager of Superior Ambulance Ohio.
Superior Ambulance is an EMS service serving Dayton, Mansfield, Shelby, Toledo and Grove City. Doug Smith is the station manager, and he said filling up a gas engine was around $50 to $70 before the hikes, with diesel around $60 to $80.
“Now we’re looking at anywhere from $100 to $115 on gas or $150 to $160 on a diesel engine,” said Smith.
It’s another stressor added to his job.
“You have to be more self-conscious and more aware of where you’re going and what routes you’re taking to save on fuel and on mileage,” said Smith.
Truax says because of Medicare and Medicaid, increasing efficiency is their only option.
“It’s not like we’re a taxicab or an Uber or a shuttle where we can increase rates and put that on the customer,” said Truax. “We have fixed rates we get paid back from the government for a majority of our payments, there’s a ceiling to it.”
So, while prices remain high across the country, he’s calling on government officials to step in.
“We’re trying every avenue we’re working the state and federal level,” added Truax.
With higher gas prices, he’s also having a hard time getting people to come in to work.
