Ambulance services are closing in record numbers across rural America after failing to make ends meet, leaving 60 million Americans at risk of having no help in a medical emergency, NBC News reports.
The big picture: Some states are giving money to emergency medical services, but experts say it's not enough to solve the problem.
Between the lines: This is partially a staffing issue — which also drives the rural doctor shortage.
- Rural areas tend to be populated with older, sicker and lower-income people than urban areas.
- Not only does this create an unmet demand for health care services, but it also means there aren't many people in the community to serve — often on a volunteer basis — as emergency medical personnel.
The issue is compounded by rural hospital closures. Ambulances have to transport patients farther than they did before.
- Since EMS programs are reimbursed per call, longer drives means less calls and thus less revenue.
Go deeper: The plight of America's rural health care
