Copper River EMS Unveils New Addiction Treatment Option, Celebrates Progress

UPDATE: We stated that the CREMS auction raised $10,464 in the KCAM auction, which included $1,900 in donations. CREMS administrator Savannah Marie-Gregory reported additional donations came in after press time, bringing the total to $12,634 including 4,070 in donations

Copper River EMS held a public annual meeting at Tazlina Hall April 16, which kicked off the 36th annual KCAM radio auction. About twenty people attended, in addition to eight board members and staff. A few attendees left shortly after the event began-  responding to a 911 call. 

Volunteer executive director Matt Lorenz and medic and board member Natalie George unveiled a newly available remote, in-home substance abuse treatment program: “Ideal Option.” Lorenz said, “A lot of our call volume is directly or indirectly related to alcohol or drugs.” He stated it is “difficult for us to deal with,” and acknowledged the tragic impact on communities and families. Can assisting with in-home treatment reduce emergency calls? 

George stated she has spent months behind the scenes working with Bridge, a national treatment provider, and Ideal Option, an outpatient/telehealth provider. Patients need in-person medical supervision for potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms, which CREMS staff and volunteers would provide in addition to help with assessment and other support. 

George noted that there is minimal wait time to start treatment, that insurance is accepted, and that uninsured patients are billed $150 per month. Patients do not need transportation to participate. George also added it might not be a good fit for every prospective patient. 

Interested patients can get more information at CREMS: 259-5167 or idealoption.com/refer. 

Attendees had the opportunity to review CREMS’ financial reporting. According to CREMS’ reporting, revenue was $604,000 in fiscal year 2025 (July 1 2024-June 30, 2025), and expenses were $426,000. Lorenz noted a $150,000 one time grant from DOT came in at the very end of the fiscal year. 

CREMS also received a one time $291,000 Congressionally Designated Spending award, which Lorenz credits to Senator Murkowski. 

Ahtna, Inc. contributed $25,000 in FY25 and FY26 and is the only corporate donor. 

Lorenz also credited hundreds of local donations large and small, Community Assistance Program (CAP) funds, a surprise $40,000 bequest, and a $15,000 training grant from the Alaska Community Foundation in addition to the 2022-2026 SAMSHA Rural EMS Training Grant of $450,000 for making CREMS solvent. 

Billing for services in the last complete fiscal year provided about 16 percent of expenses: $69,000. Call volume is lower than in densely populated areas, although medics and ambulances must still be ready to go at all times. Volunteer board president Mike McQueen joked, “If any of you are boat owners, an ambulance will give a boat a run for its money,” in terms of maintenance expense. 

There are stocked, go-ready ambulances in Glennallen and Kenny Lake. A third, alternate ambulance is also available to be put into service if needed but not fully stocked. 

Lorenz stated if insurance providers deem EMS is “not medically necessary,” they will not provide reimbursement. He surmised some patients who call for help might take themselves to an urgent care or after hours clinic if such a facility existed in the area.

In fiscal year 2025, CREMS reported they spent $232,000 on payroll, $45,000 on administrative costs including insurance, accounting, and legal services, $28,000 on training, $27,000 on facilities, $25,000 on ambulance related expenses, and $23,000 on medical supplies. An additional $46,000 went towards “small stipends” for volunteers, and other “volunteer support.” 

Lorenz expressed concern that “we do not have a sustainable baseline funding.” He stated, “we can’t rely on grants every year.” He acknowledged that it is tough to seek funding, because often “We’re all looking at the same pot of money.” 

The state currently provides “EMS Regional Grant Funds,” but the Copper Basin is lumped in with a very large area that stretches out through the Aleutians. Lorenz would like to see the Copper Basin become its own region and receive dedicated funding. He stated he has “begun to talk about it publicly” within the EMS regional organizations.  

Lorenz also stated would like CREMS to receive a portion of the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funds. According to the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development website, “PILT payments are intended to help offset losses in property taxes due to nontaxable federal lands within municipal boundaries.”

The federal government paid $621,940 in PILT funds to the Copper Basin in the 2025 fiscal year. In the 2025 fiscal year, the Copper River School District received $530,417 in PILT funding, which Lorenz acknowledged is “needed” in the district. However, he stated, “Nothing says it could not be shared.” He expressed a desire for CREMS to be allocated about 10% of the funds annually. 

Note: The PILT funds are distributed very close to the end date of the fiscal year; the prior year’s distribution was $582,933. At press time, I was uncertain how the years matched up. 

Lorenz gave an overview of local EMS history. Before 1980, the former Faith Hospital personnel and volunteers used mostly personal vehicles (and a hearse!) to transport patients. CREMS began in the early 1980s, with a dedicated group of 20-30 volunteers. 

When Delta Medical began providing ambulance service locally in 2019, CREMS shifted into providing local emergency medical training. Lorenz credits the SAMSHA Grant with keeping the organization going during those years. 

The emergency medical landscape changed dramatically in 2022, when Cross Road Medical Center announced it could no longer provide after hours or weekend care due to financial constraints. 

Lorenz pointed out this puts a greater burden of assessment onto the first responders. He joked he “would transport everybody” when there was a 24 hour clinic available, and his training level was lower than that of the current professional medics. 

After hours, personnel must decide between initiating a medevac and telling patients they can wait until morning to seek additional treatment. 

A medevac is not just expensive; it is a lengthy and involved process for patients, medics, and family members. 

If patients are not going to be transported, responders may need to spend more time monitoring or assisting them before leaving. 

The average amount of time a CREMS responder spends on a call is three hours and forty minutes. 

Delta Medical, which had been contracted through Cross Road, ceased providing ambulance transport for the Copper Basin on June 30, 2024 due to budget constraints. It was not guaranteed in the months leading up to that date that CREMS would take over transports. 

The lack of local medical facilities outside of business hours led to an increase in 911 calls- from under 175 in 2018 to over 275 in 2022. It also left first responders without an easy place to bring patients after hours. This reality, combined with often treacherous road conditions for long transports, and an increase in the “acuity” of calls led the CREMS board to decide they would not take on ambulance service without paid medics on staff. 

A major fundraising, volunteer recruitment, and staff recruitment effort ensued. CREMS formally announced it would take over the ambulance service just days before Delta Medical was slated to cease. 

The environment at the meeting was celebratory. Less than two years after being unsure whether the organization had the capacity to provide service, CREMS leadership gave a strong impression of confidence they can rely on a team. Lorenz gave high praise to medics Carol Monk, Savannah-Marie Gregory, and Natalie George. 

Lorenz and volunteer board president Mike McQueen also celebrated the volunteerism that makes the CREMS mission possible. Twenty trained volunteers took at least one shift, and some many more than that, in FY2026. Lorenz credited the availability of locally provided training in addition to an intergenerational community spirit for the success of the volunteer program. There is at least one volunteer on call alongside a paid medic. 

Looking forward, Lorenz stated that capital goals include a new EMS Response Station. He’d also like to explore additional services CREMS could provide. 

$10,464 was raised in the auction, which ended April 17. That includes $1,900 in donations. Lorenz hoped to spend much of this funding on turnout gear and other incentives for volunteers. 

Public comments included suggestions for funding sources and expressions of gratitude. Shanna Pete was among those expressing appreciation, saying, “for decades, I have seen my family helped.” 

Auction items were donated by: Scott and Lezelda Fiebig, Glennallen Hardware, Glennallen Family Dentistry, Tazlina River Trading Post, AK Railroad Corp, Kathy Walbaum, Lake Louise Lodge, Stan Stephens Glacier and Wildlife Cruises, King for a Day Campground, Copper River Princess, Danyle Boone, The Hub, Copper Valley Air, Glennallen Napa, New Skies, Greg & Becca Parrish, Copperville B&B, Copper Valley Telecom, Northern Nights Campground, Crowley, IGA, Copper Valley Electric, Spruce Burl, Rita Stadtmiller, Suzie Althens, Casa de la Arte, Copper River Coffee Co, Shawn Monk, Project Santa, Gulkana Raft Rentals, Amber Vollema, Susan Becker, Glennallen Chiropractic, Judith Lorenz, Raw Jewelry Design, Barbara Cellarius, Shirley Cain, and unidentified donors. 

Disclosure: CREMS is a Copper River Record advertiser.