As COVID-19 upends fundraising for Pennsylvaniaâs already strapped volunteer fire services, more departments are trying to recoup money spent on emergency services by billing insurance providers. Shawn Mederâs ringing phone can attest.
Meder, president and owner of Pa Fire Recovery Service LLC, a Macungie-based company that works with fire departments â including 79 in Northeast Pennsylvania â to bill insurance companies, said that prior to COVID-19, heâd get one or two phone calls in a week from fire officials seeking information on how they can collect.
Now, thatâs a normal day.
âCOVID and the lack of fundraising is definitely the driving force right now,â Meder said.