A new regional EMS authority, the Delco Emergency Services Authority (Delco ESA), is being considered to serve Media, Nether Providence, Upper Providence, Rose Valley, Rutledge, and Swarthmore. The authority aims to provide financial stability for advanced life-saving care in the region.

Formation and Modeling

Towns are collaborating to establish this authority, which would charge annual fees to property owners. Max Cooper, a Nether Providence supervisor and former Crozer emergency department physician, explained the authority is heavily modeled on the Municipal Emergency Services Authority of Lancaster County (MESA).

Fee Structure

While the exact fee structure for Delco ESA is still under development, it’s expected to resemble MESA’s. MESA currently charges a yearly fee of $87 per household in 2026, increasing from $85 in its first two years. These fees are paid by property owners, leaving landlords to decide whether to pass them on to renters.

MESA also bills insurance carriers for ambulance rides, minimizing out-of-pocket costs for residents with insurance. It remains unclear if Delco ESA will adopt a similar billing agreement.

Addressing EMS Challenges

The push for a regional authority gained momentum after Crozer-Chester Medical Center closed in May 2025. In August 2025, Nether Providence, Rose Valley, Rutledge, and Swarthmore partnered to create an advanced life-saving unit.

Cooper stated, “One of the key goals in creating this authority is to create more stable and predictable funding, while maintaining the same high level of service our residents have come to expect.” Swarthmore Mayor and Fire Chief Conlen Booth added that the working group also hopes to decrease response times, though plans are still being finalized.

Direct Billing and Tax Implications

Delco ESA will directly bill residents and property owners, rather than relying on municipal taxes. This structure means that even tax-exempt organizations, like nonprofits, will be required to pay the fees. Cooper explained, “Right now all the residents are paying for EMS via property taxes. The new mechanism will allow it to be paid over a broader number of people. And so it will cut their individual cost.”

Officials are cautious about predicting tax cuts. Cooper noted that Nether Providence needs to increase taxes annually to account for inflation and cost-of-living increases, and the authority may allow for smaller tax increases. Rutledge Council President Jody Roberts stated they have no plans to cut taxes even with the new authority.

Lessons from Lancaster County

The idea for an EMS authority originated before the Crozer-Chester and Taylor Hospital closures, as communities prepared for potential instability. The success of MESA in Lancaster County, born from the Northwest EMS facing deficits, has provided a blueprint.

Debra Dupler, a MESA board member and Mount Joy Township supervisor, explained that MESA was created to address the gap between insurance coverage and the actual cost of emergency calls. She affirmed, “If we had to do it again, we would do it again. It’s not a choice, it’s not, ‘Should we or should we not do this?’ We need this service.” MESA is now being used as a model by other counties, including those in Washington state.

Public Forums Planned

Organizers plan to share more information with the public through a series of forums, beginning at the end of April.