A long-time monopoly in ambulance service in the Valley is coming to an end. The Arizona Department of Health Services issued a “certificate of necessity” to a second ambulance company, allowing them to operate.
Rural Metro and its subsidiaries, Southwest Ambulance and PMT Ambulance, provide emergency services to most Valley cities. But now that’s going to change.
DHS Director Will Humble approved American Medical Response application to operate in Maricopa County. He said when cities solicit bids for ambulance service, they’ll have a choice.
"They really believed there was a need for an additional certificate holder so that they would have the ability to better negotiate ambulance service within their city jurisdiction, so that was a component as well," Humble said.
Rural Metro asked Humble to reconsider his decision, but he denied the request. In August 2013, the company filed for bankruptcy, though it emerged as a reorganized company later that year.
