ALBANY, NY — A new report by NYS Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli says more state action is needed to ensure reliable emergency medical services (EMS) across the state.

The report found that counties are providing more EMS services while facing shortages in staffing and funding.

The number of active EMS practitioners has fallen in recent years, with agencies frequently citing staffing problems, including declining volunteerism, difficulty in recruiting qualified staff, and low pay for EMS staff compared to other occupations in health care and public safety.

Inconsistent and inadequate funding streams are also a challenge, with many local governments forced to subsidize their ambulance services with revenue from other sources.

Another problem noted in the report is the lack of reliable statewide data on ambulance response times, dropped calls, and compliance with licensing and credentialing requirements, which makes it more difficult to evaluate EMS services and to identify areas of need.

The report says better data collection, management, and analysis are needed to help EMS agencies identify where services are falling short, and options for improving response times and outcomes. Additionally, better centralized guidance from the state about funding sources can help local officials make more informed decisions about how to pay for these services.