Log in

Massachusetts Ambulance Association

News

  • December 20, 2017 11:15 AM | Amanda Riordan (Administrator)

    The Mass Ambulance Association wishes EMS providers and their families a safe and happy holiday season! Thank you for your service to our state.


  • December 05, 2017 3:53 PM | Amanda Riordan (Administrator)
    There was a full house at today's MAA membership meeting at Pro EMS in Cambridge. Members from across the state joined the board to hear updates on advocacy progress, education, and more. Additionally, members heard from 9th District Congressional Candidate Peter Tedeschi, as well as new vendor member MNA Risk Management.


    View photos on Facebook>

  • November 22, 2017 1:08 PM | Amanda Riordan (Administrator)

    Thank you to Massachusetts ambulance services! Your selfless dedication is deeply appreciated.


  • November 09, 2017 10:38 AM | Amanda Riordan (Administrator)

    2nd Annual BFit First Responder Challenge
    January 28, 2018 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
    TD Garden

    The 2nd Annual First Responder Challenge powered by National Grid will take place Sunday, January 28, 2018, at TD Garden. This one-of-a-kind event invites local first responders and fitness enthusiasts from all over New England to participate in a course throughout TD Garden and offers friends and families a day filled with activities and fun.

    The event takes place to raise awareness around health and wellness and to support The 100 Club of Massachusetts, a charity that supports the families of law enforcement officers and firefighters who are killed in the line of duty.

    Learn more on the Boston Bruins website!


  • November 02, 2017 5:22 PM | Amanda Riordan (Administrator)

    The MAA Board of Directors have been hard at work on Beacon Hill working to correct the issues involving our industry as part of the HEALTH Act. Originally, this bill placed a cap rates that would have set non-participating provider rates at 160% of the prevailing Medicare amount. Quoting the Mass. Municipal Association (MMA) the impact on local EMS to be a reduction “…by as much as 50% if this rate-capping language becomes law.”  The broad based impact that this measure would have had on our industry is devastating to every ambulance operator.  We have been actively working in advance of the bill being released to contain its impact by participating as part of the MA Senate’s Special Committee on Healthcare Cost Containment Roundtable and meeting Senate leadership over the course of five months.

    We are pleased to report that the redrafted Senate cost containment bill shows that EMS language has been struck from the bill.  This is a significant achievement by all of us (MMA, PFFM, FCAM and MAA) collectively.  Thank you to our partners for participating in all of the meetings to date and committing their respective organizations to fixing what would have been a disaster to EMS providers across the state.  We still have more work to do in the Senate and House but it is a significant achievement to have the Senate on record not wanting to cut EMS funding.  The Senate President’s office, Senate Ways and Means and Senate Health Care Finance staff were very accommodating to us throughout this process and I am very pleased that they listened to us and ultimately removed the language.


  • September 11, 2017 4:11 PM | Amanda Riordan (Administrator)

    Many thanks to EMS Pro for sponsoring today's Billing Summit, as well as presenters Brian Werfel, Esq, Asbel Montes, Brian Choate, and Scott Moore, Esq. We also deeply appreciate Trinity EMS hosting the event!

    View photos on Facebook!

  • August 24, 2017 8:36 AM | Amanda Riordan (Administrator)

    Congratulations to MAA member Cataldo Ambulance Service on the celebration of their 40th anniversary. More on Facebook►

  • August 08, 2017 9:18 AM | Amanda Riordan (Administrator)

    MAA was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of this respected member of our community.

    Paramedic Scott MacAskill passed away this past Saturday at his home in Ipswich.  Scott has been involved in the MA EMS community for over 20 years with AMR, Cataldo, Northshore Ambulance, Action, Northeast Regional, Brewster, and for the last 5 years with Beauport. 
    Scott had a positive influence on not only the patients in which he treated but also his peers in which he took pride and joy in teaching. 
    Scott has left a hole that will never be filled within our family of employees and I kindly ask that you send a uniformed crew and truck for a walk through at Scott's wake.  Let's show him the respect and honor he rightfully deserves.   Below are the details for his service.   Please don't hesitate to contact me if you should have any questions.  

    FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS

    (PLEASE SHARE/REPOST)
    The arrangements for Scott's visiting hours are as follows:
    Wednesday August 9th 4p until 8p
    Weir Mac Cuish Family Funeral Home
    144 Salem St. 

    Malden, MA

    EMS/POLICE/FIRE, you are welcome and encouraged to show up in uniform as well as in a EMS, police, or fire vehicle. Let's all show the respect and final farewell that Scott deserves.

    Thursday morning 10am there will be a service at the funeral home only. No church or graveside service will occurr.

    Respectfully,

    John R. Morris
    President

    Beauport Ambulance Service, Inc.

  • July 06, 2017 1:29 PM | Amanda Riordan (Administrator)

    FIRST RESPONDERS APPRECIATION DAYS

    FREE ADMISSION WITH ID*

    Fridays in July & August

    *Each Friday in July & August 2017, First Responders (with ID) will receive free admission for themselves. Law Enforcement, Fire Departments, and EMT's with department, company, or town issued ID's presented at our Guest Services Window at the time of purchase will qualify for the free admission.

    Learn more at the Canobie Lake Park website.

  • June 29, 2017 5:31 PM | Amanda Riordan (Administrator)

    MAA members, please be advised that Ford has issued a recall of late-model Transits. 

    From the Ford website:

    • Ford is issuing a safety recall for approximately 400,000 2015-17 Ford Transit van/bus vehicles with medium, long and extended wheelbases and chassis cab/cutaways with medium wheelbases to replace the driveshaft flexible coupling.
    • In the affected vehicles, continuing to operate a vehicle with a cracked flexible coupling may cause separation of the driveshaft, resulting in a loss of motive power while driving or unintended vehicle movement in park without the parking brake applied. In addition, separation of the driveshaft from the transmission can result in secondary damage to surrounding components, including brake and fuel lines. A driveshaft separation may increase the risk of injury or crash.
    • Ford is not aware of any accidents or injuries associated with this issue.
    • Affected vehicles include 2015-17 Ford Transit vehicles built at Kansas City Assembly Plant, Jan. 17, 2014 to June 15, 2017.
    • The recall involves approximately 402,462 vehicles in North America (370,630 in the U.S., 2,361 in federalized territories, 3,217 in Mexico and 26,254 in Canada). The Ford reference number for this recall is 17S15.
    • Based on the field data, Ford does not expect the current flexible couplings to deteriorate sufficiently to result in driveline separation in vehicles with less than 30,000 miles. Hence, for affected vehicles with under 30,000 miles or vehicles that have had a driveshaft or driveshaft flexible coupling replaced within the last 30,000 miles, no alteration or interim repair is required until the vehicle or replaced flexible coupling reaches 30,000 miles. At that point, the customer should schedule an appointment with their dealer for the interim repair to be performed.
    •  For affected vehicles with more than 30,000 miles, the interim repair will consist of replacing the driveshaft flexible coupling every 30,000 miles until the final repair is available and completed. Owners will be notified by mail and instructed to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the flexible coupling replaced immediately at no cost. When the permanent repair is available, owners will be notified that they may schedule an appointment with their dealer to have either a redesigned flexible coupling with a modified driveshaft bracket and shield or a revised driveshaft equipped with a universal joint installed at no cost.