The Maricopa City Council unanimously approved Resolution 25-07, authorizing the City Manager to submit an application for a Certificate of Necessity (CON) to the Arizona Department of Health Services for ground ambulance transportation services.
The resolution, presented by Fire and Medical Department Chief Brad Pitassi, represents a significant step toward the city providing its own ambulance services, rather than relying on third-party providers as it currently does.
“This is a great thing for our city. We won’t have to rely on that other company that sometimes takes a little bit longer,” said Supervisor Rich Vitiello, a former council member who spoke in support of the resolution. “These guys get to your house within three to four minutes. I know that because I’ve had a few falls and they showed up right away.”
Currently, the Maricopa Fire and Medical Department provides emergency medical care through its paramedics and EMTs but does not offer ambulance transportation. When Maricopa residents need ambulance transportation, they receive service from ambulances operated by other fire departments or private companies.
Chief Pitassi explained that the CON application would enable the department to “provide 100% of the Emergency Medical Services pre-hospital care within the city,” creating a seamless experience from the initial 911 call through transportation to the hospital.
The proposed ambulance service would deploy four dedicated ambulances within the city, with two additional ambulances available as needed, according to Chief Pitassi’s presentation. These would be staffed with Maricopa firefighters “trained to a consistent standard with standardized equipment in a very low turnover as we historically have seen in the fire department,” Pitassi noted.
Looking ahead, Chief Pitassi outlined the expected timeline for the project. After submission of the application this month, the Department of Health Services will conduct a substantive review, expected to be completed by September or October 2025. If necessary, an administrative law hearing would follow in early 2026, with a decision on the CON expected in 2026 or 2027. The ambulance service is projected to begin in late 2027 or early 2028.
The application process is lengthy, potentially taking up to 24 months to complete, according to Pitassi. Mayor Nancy Smith acknowledged the challenges, noting that “it hasn’t been an easy Road it’s been a very challenging Road getting through this process.”
As the project moves forward, Maricopa residents can expect a gradual transition toward city-operated ambulance services, with the goal of providing more consistent and responsive emergency medical transportation by 2028.
