Seven Delaware County municipalities have until April 22 to pay for paramedic services provided by Crozer Health.

The health system, currently owned by Prospect Medical Holdings, sent letters April 12 to Glenolden, Prospect Park, Norwood, Ridley Park, and Brookhaven Boroughs, and to Tinicum and Aston Townships, asking them to pay for its Advanced Life Support response vehicles, known as chase cars, or be cut off.

The chase car responds to local emergencies but doesn’t transport patients. It does provide a highly trained paramedic at the scene.  Dispatching the vehicle was an “unfunded expense” for Crozer.

 “For us to maintain our current level of service, Crozer Health requires financial support from the municipalities it serves,” the letters read.

The situation aggravates an existing EMS shortage in the county.

James Stigale, president of the Aston Board of Commissioners, was concerned there was no next step offered by Crozer.

“Our main concern is the medical response need to our residents,” he said in a statement to WHYY.

Prospect Medical is in a deal to sell off Crozer to Wilmington-based nonprofit ChristianaCare Health System, which has signed a letter of intent.

Read more at WHYY about Crozer Health’s request for municipal payments for use of its Advanced Life Support response vehicles.  

Here’s a February 2022 6 ABC News report on the potential sale of Crozer Health to ChristianaCare.