Clemente Ambulance files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

YOUNGSTOWN — Clemente Ambulance Inc. today announced that it has filed voluntary

petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. This move will not

affect the company’s day to day operations in serving the Mahoning and Trumbull County

communities with high level, compassionate medical care. This step has been taken to provide

the Struthers-based company the opportunity to restructure its financial situation, re-group,

and reenergize its efforts to provide sustainable emergency medical service for years to come.

“Over the last 42 years, we have successfully faced a myriad of challenges as a family-owned

company, poured our hearts into nurturing quality emergency medical care, and prepared for

the future,” said Clemente Ambulance CEO Eileen Clemente. “Unfortunately, at the same

time, factors beyond our control have created a perfect storm — a tough economy, rising fuel,

liability, and employee health insurance costs, and shrinking revenue have made it difficult to

support our debt.

Clemente went on to say, “Much of that shrinking revenue is due to the current situation in

which insurance companies are reducing payments and many area residents simply don’t have

insurance or the money to pay for services. Those factors coupled with a debilitating and

inequitable Bureau of Workers Compensation structure in Ohio has forced us to reevaluate our

finances.”

The ambulance service provider filed for reorganization and protection from creditors on

March 23rd. The family-run business was built from the ground up as Clemente Funeral Home

and Ambulance Service in 1966. Today, the ambulance portion of the business runs eight

ambulances, five wheelchair vans, and has 65 full and part-time employees. Clemente Funeral

Home is not part of the Chapter 11 filing.

CEO Eileen Clemente said the company will continue doing business as usual.

“We are cautiously optimistic this restructuring will bring new life to our company and we are

proud of our more than four decade commitment to this area. Our top priority is to continue to

provide the very highest level of medical care which the community we serve has come to

recognize and count on,” Clemente said.

Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the lesser of the two common bankruptcy filings, allows a company to

continue business while sorting out its financial affairs.