MedStar Mobile Healthcare

What MedStar Mobile Healthcare does

MedStar Mobile Healthcare (legal name Metropolitan Area EMS Authority) is an administrative governmental agency formed in 1986 through an Interlocal Government Cooperating Agreement between Fort Worth and 13 other member cities in North Central Texas. It is the exclusive emergency and non-emergency ambulance provider for the cities of Blue Mound, Edgecliff Village, Forest Hill, Fort Worth, Haltom City, Haslet, Lakeside, Lake Worth, River Oaks, Saginaw, Sansom Park, Westover Hills, Westworth Village, and White Settlement, with Richland Hills added under a February 2025 ordinance. The agency operates a fleet of 75 ambulances across 436 square miles, responds to roughly 190,000 emergency calls annually, and serves a population of approximately 1.1 million residents with a workforce of around 500 team members.

The core technology stack centers on an Accredited Center of Excellence 9-1-1 communications center using Emergency Medical Dispatch protocols, a proprietary Deployment Monitor System that uses real-time data to predict call volumes and pre-position units, 12-lead ECG transmission capability for cardiac care coordination, and a suite of Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) programs covering super-utilizer management, readmission prevention, observational admission reduction, hospice revocation avoidance, and 9-1-1 nurse triage. Adjacent product lines include the StarSaver and StarSaver Plus annual membership programs ($69–$110 per household) sold direct-to-consumer, special-event medical standby services for venues such as the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo and Texas Motor Speedway, and the MedStar EMS Academy and Citizen Academy for training.

MedStar's revenue model blends four streams: (1) interlocal government funding from member cities via 10-year automatically renewing agreements under which the City of Fort Worth acts as licensed EMS provider; (2) per-transport ambulance billing to patients and insurers (average emergency transport exceeds $1,500, with Medicare denying over 40% of claims); (3) consumer StarSaver membership subscriptions; and (4) professional services fees for event medical standby. The agency is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services and recognized as the most cost-effective public ambulance agency in Texas. Per a May 2024 Fort Worth City Council decision and a February 2025 ordinance, MedStar is dissolving and its operations are transferring into the Fort Worth Fire Department effective July 1, 2025, with current MedStar employees being hired into civil service positions under a Memorandum of Understanding with IAFF Local 440.

Name

MedStar Mobile Healthcare

Legal name

Metropolitan Area EMS Authority

Website

https://medstar911.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

MedStar Mobile Healthcare is a governmental EMS agency providing exclusive 9-1-1 ambulance and Mobile Integrated Healthcare services to 15 member cities in Tarrant County, Texas, serving 1.1 million residents across 436 square miles with a fleet of 75 ambulances.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Emergency Medical Services

NAICS

Ambulance Services (62191), Home Health Care Services (62161)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

911/Public EMS Agencies (Municipal/County/Fire-Based) (HLAFANAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Paramedicine & Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH/CP) Programs (HLAFANAI)

Keywords

• Emergency medical services
• Ambulance transport services
• Mobile integrated healthcare
• 9-1-1 emergency dispatch
• Event medical standby

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Worth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government/Interlocal Agreement Funding: Primary revenue from interlocal government agreements with member cities. City Council approves EMS ordinance and interlocal agreements designate City of Fort Worth as licensed EMS provider through Fort Worth Fire Department. Agreements are 10-year terms with automatic renewal.
2. Ambulance Transport Services: Emergency and non-emergency ambulance transport billed to patients/insurance. Average emergency ambulance transport costs over $1,500. Medicare denies coverage for over 40% of ambulance claims.
3. StarSaver Membership Program: Annual membership program for residents and workers in service area. Protects entire household with unlimited emergency transports. $69/year with insurance, $110/year without insurance.
4. Event Medical Services: Standby medical services for community events, sporting events, rodeos, festivals. Services include ambulances, bicycle teams, rodeo teams, mule teams, first aid stations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MedStar Mobile Healthcare (Metropolitan Area EMS Authority) is the exclusive provider of emergency and non-emergency Advanced Life Support ambulance services for 14 member cities across 436 square miles in Tarrant County, Texas, operating a fleet of 75 ambulances and an accredited 9-1-1 communications center that responds to more than 190,000 calls per year. The agency supplements response services with Mobile Integrated Healthcare programs (readmission prevention, super-utilizer management, 9-1-1 nurse triage, hospice revocation avoidance), event standby medical teams, the StarSaver household membership, and EMS training via MedStar EMS Academy.

Product overview

MedStar Mobile Healthcare operates as a governmental EMS agency providing a unified Mobile Healthcare platform consisting of core emergency ambulance services (MedStar911) augmented by Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) programs. The portfolio includes 9-1-1 dispatch services, the MedStarSaver membership program, specialized Event Medical Services (ambulances, bicycle teams, rodeo team, mule team), the MedStar EMS Academy for training and certification, the Citizen Academy community education program, Chest Compression Training for CPR/Stop the Bleed/Narcan, and a Deployment Monitor System for predictive resource allocation. The organization covers 436 square miles across 15 cities serving over 1 million residents with 75 ambulances handling over 190,000 annual responses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MedStarSaver / StarSaver Memberships: Annual membership program available to residents and workers in the MedStar service area, covering unlimited emergency transports for a household for $69/year (or $110/year for those without medical insurance).
• StarSaver PLUS / MedStar on Demand
• MedStar EMS Academy

Products and services

• MedStar911 Emergency Ambulance Services Advanced Life Support emergency and non-emergency ambulance service for 9-1-1 response across 436 square miles of Tarrant County, serving over 1 million residents in Fort Worth and 14 member cities with a fleet of 75 ambulances responding to over 190,000 calls annually.
• Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) Programs Healthcare programs including super-utilizer management, readmission prevention, observational admission reduction, hospice revocation avoidance, and 9-1-1 nurse triage, designed to provide appropriate healthcare resources for residents with non-emergency or frequent-care needs.
• MedStarSaver Membership (StarSaver) Annual subscription membership providing unlimited emergency ambulance transports for an entire household in the service area for $69/year with insurance or $110/year without insurance, protecting against average emergency ambulance transport costs exceeding $1,500.
• 9-1-1 Call Center and Dispatch Services Accredited 9-1-1 emergency communications center providing medical pre-arrival instructions, Emergency Medical Dispatch protocols, and system status management for ambulance deployment across the service area.
• Event Medical Services EMS standby and medical coverage for events including ambulances, Bicycle Emergency Response Teams, Rodeo Team, Mule Team transport, first aid stations, and event planning services for events ranging from street fairs to 100,000+ spectator events such as Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, Texas Motor Speedway NASCAR races, and Fort Worth ISD football games.
• MedStar EMS Academy Training and education programs including CPR classes, First Aid courses, EMS certification courses (EMT-Basic, Critical Care Paramedic), continuing education for EMTs and paramedics, and community training such as Hands Only CPR and Stop the Bleed.
• Citizen Academy Seven-week interactive community education program teaching residents about EMS operations, 9-1-1 dispatch, CPR/Stop the Bleed/Narcan training, and including ambulance ride-alongs and communications center observations.
• Chest Compression Training Program Community training program offering free Hands Only CPR, Stop the Bleed, and Narcan administration training for groups of 10 or more at MedStar headquarters or community locations.
• Interfacility Ground Transportation Non-emergency interfacility ambulance transport services for healthcare facilities and hospitals in member cities, conducted under clinical protocols established by the Emergency Physicians Advisory Board (EPAB) and Office of Medical Director.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces overdose 911 responses by 89% through partnership with Recovery Resource Council
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Recovery Resource CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 February 2024Partnership has reduced overdose 911 responses in enrolled patients by 88.6-89%. Focuses on harm reduction and overdose prevention programs.
• University of North Texas Health Science Center (HSC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 August 2022Expanded partnership for education, training, and research collaboration in emergency medical services.
• Tarrant County Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2021Partnered for in-home COVID-19 testing for persons under investigation and mobile COVID-19 vaccine clinics with LVTRise.
• ReliantminorOthers · 21 April 2020Donated $25,000 to support MedStar Mobile Healthcare's COVID-19 relief efforts in DFW.
• Emergency Physicians Advisory Board (EPAB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides medical oversight for the MedStar System including MedStar Mobile Healthcare and 15 area co-response agencies. Oversees medical direction and protocols.
• Fort Worth Fire DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShared mission since 1986 of providing highest level of care in patients' best interests. EMS transition planned to integrate MedStar employees into Fire Department.
• 15 Co-Response AgenciesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArea co-response agencies working within the MedStar System for comprehensive emergency response coverage.
• MedStar FoundationcoreOthers501(c)(3) organization supporting MedStar's mission to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. Development fund and endowment arm of Metropolitan Area EMS Authority.
• The Jordan Elizabeth Harris FoundationminorOthersPast recipient of Foundation fundraising. Provides suicide prevention training and education for first responders, children and adults, and depression research funding.
• One Safe PlaceminorOthersPast recipient of Foundation fundraising. Comprehensive crime prevention agency devoted to preventing crime and violence in Tarrant County.
• DRC SolutionsminorOthersPast recipient of Foundation fundraising. Provides community-based solutions to help individuals and families emerge from homelessness.
• True Worth PlaceminorOthersPast recipient of Foundation fundraising. Brings services together and provides shelter in compassionate welcoming environment.
• Fort Worth Drowning Prevention CoalitionminorOthersPast recipient of Foundation fundraising. Community non-profit organization mission to prevent fatal and non-fatal drowning in Fort Worth area.
• Member Cities (14 cities)coreOthersBlue Mound, Edgecliff Village, Forest Hill, Fort Worth, Haltom City, Haslet, Lakeside, Lake Worth, River Oaks, Saginaw, Sansom Park, Westover Hills, Westworth Village, White Settlement. Interlocal government agreements for EMS services.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• American Medical Response (AMR): The largest private-sector ambulance and EMS provider in the United States, operating 9-1-1, interfacility, and managed transportation services across hundreds of communities. Directly comparable to MedStar on core ambulance service delivery, fleet-based response, and 9-1-1 dispatch, though AMR is private/for-profit rather than a public agency.
• Acadian Ambulance Service: Privately held multi-state ambulance and air medical provider offering 9-1-1, interfacility, and specialty transport, with a strong emphasis on clinical quality and innovation. Comparable to MedStar as a full-service, multi-modal EMS operator with event coverage and MIH-adjacent programs.
• Mecklenburg EMS Agency (Medic): Public utility-model EMS agency serving Charlotte/Mecklenburg County, NC, widely recognized for MIH/CP program development, performance analytics, and clinical innovation. One of the most direct public-sector peers to MedStar in terms of mission, MIH program maturity, and high-performance public EMS profile.
• Richmond Ambulance Authority: Independent public authority providing EMS to the City of Richmond, Virginia, recognized nationally for high-performance, data-driven response and clinical excellence. Structurally the closest peer to MedStar as an independent public authority (rather than fire-department-based) EMS system.
• Falck USA: US arm of global Falck Group, providing 9-1-1 and interfacility ambulance services in multiple states. Direct peer to MedStar on private/public ambulance contracting, with comparable municipal contract structures.
• Sunstar Paramedics (Pasco County): Public-private partnership EMS provider for Pasco County, Florida, providing ALS 9-1-1, interfacility transport, and community paramedicine. Closely comparable to MedStar on hybrid public-private operating model and MIH program focus.
• REMSA Health (Regional Emergency Medical Services Authority): Private nonprofit integrated healthcare provider in Washoe County, Nevada, offering ground ambulance 9-1-1 services and one of the country's most advanced MIH/CP programs. Direct peer to MedStar on the integrated mobile healthcare model, with comparable clinical performance metrics and payor mix focus.

Broad incumbents

• Global Medical Response: Parent company of AMR and Air Methods, providing ground ambulance, air ambulance, and integrated medical transportation across the US. Comparable to MedStar on the ambulance and integrated mobile healthcare dimensions, but at a vastly larger scale and as a private equity-backed platform.

Regional players

• Austin-Travis County EMS: Municipal third-service EMS provider for Austin and Travis County, Texas, with comparable ALS response, MIH/CP programs, and special event coverage. Direct in-state peer to MedStar, sharing Texas regulatory framework and similar urban-rural service mix.

Others

• International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (IAED): Standards body that accredits 9-1-1 dispatch centers of excellence — the body that accredited MedStar's communications center. Included as a relevant ecosystem peer given MedStar's IAED-accredited dispatch and its role in shaping EMS dispatch standards nationally.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/medstaremsinfo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC9Qj6UIEUNEISjvcRyidR6g
• Facebookfacebook.com/groups/63842656860
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/emergency-physician-advisory-board

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MedStar Mobile Healthcare