Mobile City Council Denies Third Ambulance Service, Raising Concerns Over Competition and Patient Access

By BuzzReport Staff

Mobile, AL (BuzzReport) — In a decision that has sparked debate over public safety, competition, and access to medical transportation, the Mobile City Council voted to deny Acadian Ambulance a certificate of public convenience and necessity, effectively blocking a third private ambulance provider from operating in the city.

The denial leaves Mobile residents reliant on just two private ambulance companies—Newman’s Ambulance and MedEvac Alabama—for non-emergency hospital transports and emergency response support. Both existing providers opposed Acadian’s application, arguing that introducing another competitor would significantly cut into their hospital transport business, which they say is their primary source of revenue.

Under current city ordinances, ambulance services granted a certificate are required to assist with 911 basic life support (BLS) calls. Providers have long argued that BLS responses are financially burdensome, often resulting in losses that are offset by profits from hospital-to-hospital transports.

During council deliberations, concerns over the city’s regulatory framework took center stage. Councilman Ben Reynolds, who voted against granting the certificate, acknowledged the complexity of the issue and suggested the ordinance itself may need revision.

While the council praised improved response rates, critics argue that the decision prioritizes protecting existing revenue streams over expanding capacity and choice for residents. In many cities—both small and large—multiple ambulance services operate simultaneously to ensure adequate coverage, faster response times, and redundancy during large-scale emergencies.

Mobile residents, however, will not have that option.

Instead, the city announced plans to issue a request for proposals (RFP) that would allow Mobile to contract with a single company to handle BLS calls, with the city paying an as-yet-undetermined amount for those services. The move signals a potential shift toward a subsidized model rather than a competitive one.

For some citizens and healthcare advocates, the council’s decision raises broader questions: Should emergency medical services be driven by market competition, public funding, or a hybrid of both? And does limiting providers ultimately help or harm patient care?

As Mobile leaders prepare to revisit their ambulance ordinance and consider future proposals, residents are left waiting—hoping that decisions made behind council chambers translate into reliable, timely care when it matters most.