The state Senate took a step toward making a wise investment for the state Tuesday by unanimously passing a bill to provide $25 million in funding to Pennsylvania's EMS providers. The bill now goes to Gov. Tom Wolf to sign.

This is great news for both EMS companies in the state that have been struggling financially and state residents, who will be safer when EMS companies are better funded and staffed.

The bill follows a recent push to distribute $225 million in federal relief funds for hospitals and behavioral health providers.

EMS companies — many of which were struggling prior to COVID-19 and have continued to do so throughout — will be able to receive funds once the bill is signed into law through the Office of the State Fire Commissioner.

The bill would also ensure that volunteer, paid and combination fire departments are eligible for low-interest loans through the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Loan Program.

Any extra funding for state EMS companies could make a great difference. A state Senate report two years ago that was aimed at analyzing how legislators can better support fire and EMS services found that EMS companies are underfunded and unmanned to the point that they are stretched dangerously thin when responding to emergencies.

The county commissioners made a smart choice last year by approving a pilot program to help EMS companies get what they need to operate efficiently. That program will come up with recommendations to address concerns and determine how ambulance services could be more effectively operated.

We hope the state — and allocated federal money — will compliment efforts being made at the county level.

The decline of firefighters and emergency responders and financial problems faced by EMS companies present a threat to public safety.

Whether some people survive an emergency situation can be determined in a matter of minutes, and delays caused by short staffing at EMS companies can have tragic results.

"EMS is in serious trouble, some are living on the (brink) of bankruptcy," Jay Grinnell, president of Harmony EMS, said.

That's not a situation in which any community wants to find itself.

We hope the state bill to provide $25 million in funding to EMS companies is quickly signed into law, and that our county EMS companies benefit from it, thereby keeping our communities safe.

— NCD