The Fort Worth Fire Department has officially taken over ambulance services from MedStar, marking the culmination of years of negotiations and planning.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, MedStar — the longtime sole emergency medical services (EMS) provider for multiple cities in Tarrant County — has faced ongoing financial difficulties. The agency serves a 436-square-mile area and responds to approximately 185,000 calls annually.
Created in 1986 under the Metropolitan Area Emergency Services Authority (MAEMSA), MedStar operated as a public utility model, funded largely through billing health insurance providers and government programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid. However, between 25% and 30% of service calls went unpaid due to factors such as a lack of insurance coverage, decreased federal reimbursements, and other complications.
Rising personnel costs and supply chain issues further strained the agency’s finances.
In early June, Fort Worth fire and MedStar personnel began jointly working at the city’s central communications facility for the first time, according to Fox 4 News.
“We are already seeing the benefits of putting our dispatch centers together,” said Fort Worth Fire Chief Jim Davis. “We’re seeing those benefits in the idea that instead of folks getting in and out of vehicles, walking up and down the street to talk to each other, they’re talking on radios. They’re on one radio system. They’ll soon be on one dispatch system. And folks, that makes everybody safer.”
While the integration may bring higher costs in the short term, city leaders believe it represents a smart investment for Fort Worth’s long-term emergency response capabilities.