What Happens When You Don't Let the Market Set Wages?

You get disruptions in the labor market. In this case, the disruptions are in the labor market for ambulance services. Delayed: Ambulance Response Times Suffer From EMS Worker Shortage

I read a lot of news articles about 911 response times. I'm usually interested in police response times in the face of violent crimes, but occasionally I can't ignore a problem impacting Fire/Rescue and Emergency Medical Services. This makes no sense to me. But then very little in the world to day makes sense to me.

High stress. Low wages. I'm shocked that more people are not signing up for that. Not really that shocked. Actually, I'm shocked that anyone is currently signing up for that.

And while this is a story from, and about, Massachusetts, this is somewhat of a nationwide problem.

As a result of staffing shortages, response times are increasing. They mention one case where it took 30 minutes for an ambulance to respond to a pedestrian struck by a vehicle. That is a long time.

Prior to COVID-19, there was already a high turnover rate among EMS workers. But the pandemic has exacerbated the shortage with some workers leaving the industry from burnout, and fewer recruits coming onboard.

Prospective workers can make similar wages in less stressful, less risky environments like department stores or fast-food chains.

And then the cause of the disparity between the pay and the responsibilities:

Ambulance companies say their revenue is dependent on reimbursement rates from the state and federal government, along with commercial insurers. Until those are increased, don't expect EMS salaries to show much of bump.

And before you jump on the evil, capitalistic insurance companies consider who sets the rates they are permitted to charge. (Hint: It's the government.)

So as people call 911 with greater frequency for issues big and small, the Massachusetts Ambulance Association estimates there are 30% fewer ambulances on the road because there simply aren't enough EMTs and paramedics to staff them.

Is anyone shocked that a high stress job, with literally life and death responsibilities, coupled with the joys of seeing gruesome accident and crime scenes and low pay is having trouble attracting people?

Of course if the market was able to function, that is if wages could be raised to attract and retain enough qualified people, and that cost could be passed on, this would not be an issue. But the evils of Free Markets cannot be allowed to stand, so we have this.

The next choice would be to pay for market wages out of the tax base, but then that might mean that politicians would have to cut back on things that make great news items when elections roll around. Things like parks and community centers and Art in the Parks, and free crack pipes for all, or whatever the latest craze is. In the meantime, while tax money is being spent on crap, life-and-death services are left to suffer.

With apologies to Ron Weasley, and J. K. Rowling, they need to sort out their priorities.

The powers that be are putting lipstick on the pig and saying that they do not know of any negative outcomes caused by this. (Are they looking for outcomes, or are they choosing to remain blissfully ignorant?) But we know that delays in medical care in trauma situations does cause bad things to happen. So even if nothing bad has happened, that cannot last. Something bad will happen to someone because we are incapable of making tough spending choices.