On Thursday, the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners voted 3‑2 to adopt a new Ambulance Service Plan (ASP). The plan sets a 15‑minute benchmark for life‑threatening emergencies in the suburban cities of Fairview, Troutdale and Wood Village, while keeping an eight‑minute target for the rest of the county.
Why the change?
County officials say the adjustment reflects realistic staffing and funding limits. “Simply put, there’s not enough revenue coming in to pay for that level of ambulance resource in these areas,” explained Aaron Monnig, EMS Administrator for the Health Department. The plan also introduces stricter training requirements, dispatch improvements and new quality‑care standards aimed at strengthening the overall emergency‑medical system.
Local officials voice concern
Mayors and city managers from the affected municipalities expressed disappointment. Troutdale Mayor Dave Ripna stressed, “Response time matters, and it certainly matters to the citizens of Troutdale, Wood Village and Fairview.” Wood Village Mayor Jairo Rios‑Campos added, “About 80 % of our 911 calls are medical emergencies. East County is already under‑resourced, and this just adds to that challenge.” Fairview City Manager Nathan George asked, “If you really want better service, why not raise Portland and Gresham to four minutes and leave the rest of us at eight minutes? There are other options.”
County leadership defends the plan
County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson defended the ASP, noting it builds on recent improvements and provides a stable, resilient EMS system. “We struck an important balance: codifying what is working and promoting flexibility and innovation, all while centering a focus on quality care and strong oversight,” Pederson said.
Commissioner Meghan Moyer acknowledged the difficulty of funding but emphasized the reliance on insurance rates. “The county is limited to response times that can be supported by insurance rates. Since state and federal health insurance is the primary funder, I am looking to the legislature to increase their ambulance fee schedule that has remained flat since 2014,” she explained.
Next steps
The ASP now moves to the state for review, as required for all county ambulance service plans. In addition, the Board approved a separate resolution that will give preference to proposals offering faster ambulance response times for the three east‑county cities.
While the new benchmark has sparked criticism from local leaders who view the 15‑minute target as inequitable compared to the eight‑minute standard in Portland and Gresham, county officials argue the plan is a pragmatic response to funding realities and aims to improve overall EMS quality across Multnomah County.
Original reporting: KPTV FOX 12 Portland (news) — read the source article.
