When You Call 911, Will Anyone Come?

Out here, we take care of each other. When someone gets hurt on the farm, has a heart attack, or wrecks on the highway, we call 911 and trust that help is on the way.

But that help is in danger.

Our Ambulances Run on Volunteers

Most people don't know this: in much of rural Eastern Washington, the person driving the ambulance is a volunteer. A neighbor. A rancher. A teacher. Someone who trained on their own time to save your life.

  • In Ferry County, almost every EMT is a volunteer — 96 out of every 100.

  • In Lincoln County, seven small ambulance crews cover more than 2,300 square miles. Most are volunteers.

  • In Stevens County, just three ambulance services cover an area the size of Delaware. Deer Park's volunteer ambulance has served since 1948 — the oldest in the state.

These crews don't get paid by your taxes. They get paid when insurance covers the ride. For many of our neighbors, that insurance is Medicaid.

What Happens When Medicaid Gets Cut?

About 350,000 people in Washington are expected to lose their Medicaid coverage. Many of them live right here.

Here's the problem: the ambulance still has to come when you call. That's the law, and it's the right thing to do. But if the patient has no insurance, nobody pays for that ride. The ambulance crew eats the cost.

Fuel. Medical supplies. Training. Repairs. It all costs money. When the money runs out, stations close. And when a station closes, the next ambulance might be an hour away.