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W.Va. to give $10M to EMS agencies amid staffing shortages

Boone County Emergency Ambulance Authority Director Bryan Justice says the funding will help address the staffing shortfall

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By Leila Merrill

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice unveiled a $10 million emergency management fund for West Virginia EMS agencies in his state of the state address on Jan. 27, WCHS reported.

The state lost roughly 35% of its paramedics over two years, according to Boone County Emergency Ambulance Authority Director Bryan Justice.

The funding “will help a lot of the rural EMS agencies along with the not-for-profit and for profit agencies because everyone is facing the same issues,” he said.

The governor expressed gratitude for EMS providers.

“We have done this to try to retain or recruit, you know, good, good, good people,” Justice said. “These people have given so much. You talk about they run to the fire, and they surely have.”

How the funds will be distributed remains to be seen.