SEMSA

What SEMSA does

SEMSA (Sierra Medical Services Alliance) is a private, not-for-profit Nevada corporation headquartered at 1325 Airmotive Way, Suite 290 in Reno, Nevada, founded in 2000 to provide emergency medical services and operational support to rural and small metropolitan communities that struggle under prevailing EMS reimbursement economics. The company owns and operates exclusive ground ambulance franchises in Merced County (via wholly-owned subsidiary Riggs Ambulance Service) and Lassen County, California, both under 10-year exclusive contracts re-awarded in 2015 and 2020 respectively. It also operates two Bell 407 critical-care helicopters under the SEMSA Air brand through partnerships with Air Methods Corporation (aviation services) and Southern Cascades EMS, providing helicopter emergency medical services across Northeastern California from Susanville and Adin. A wheelchair transportation subsidiary, MedExpress, serves Reno, Nevada and Merced County, California.

Beyond transport operations, SEMSA delivers adjacent EMS support services to third-party agencies and internal operations, including an ICD10-compliant automated billing solution covering private insurance, private pay, and Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement, day-to-day EMS management services for partner agencies (Escalon and Patterson Ambulance Services), and Gold Saver and Advantage membership programs for pre-paid transport coverage. The company is the parent organization of the International Center for Prehospital and Disaster Medicine (ICPDM), which delivers classroom and distance-learning education in tactical and disaster medicine and serves as a regional training center for the National Disaster Life Support Foundation under contracts with the States of Oregon and Washington. Specialty programs include Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS), the Pulse Point community CPR alerting program, and Pit Crew CPR training. CAMTS accreditation is held for air medical transport operations.

The business model is a hybrid of public-sector franchise revenue (county-EMS contracts won via competitive procurement), transaction-based transport revenue (patient billing across payer mixes), recurring subscription revenue (membership programs), and professional services revenue (third-party EMS management, billing services, and education). Customers are primarily county governments (Lassen, Merced), secondary ambulance operators receiving management and billing services, and individual patients requiring emergency or non-emergency medical transport or specialized training. Marketing and customer acquisition occur through competitive public procurement for franchises, direct-to-patient online bill pay portals, membership enrollment forms, and community engagement via Facebook and Instagram channels.

Name

SEMSA

Legal name

Sierra Medical Services Alliance

Website

https://sierramed.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SEMSA (Sierra Medical Services Alliance) is a Reno, Nevada-based non-profit that owns and operates exclusive ground ambulance franchises in Merced and Lassen Counties, California, runs air medical helicopter services in Northeastern California, and provides EMS billing, management, and education (via ICPDM) to rural communities and partner agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Emergency Medical Services

NAICS

Ambulance Services (62191), Ambulance Services (621910), All Other Miscellaneous Ambulatory Health Care Services (621999)

akta.pro primary industry

Private EMS Providers (Contract/Interfacility) (HLAFANAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

911/Public EMS Agencies (Municipal/County/Fire-Based) (HLAFANAA), EMS Billing, Revenue Cycle & Compliance Services (HLAFANAM), Community Paramedicine & Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH/CP) Programs (HLAFANAI)

Keywords

• Emergency medical services
• Ground ambulance transport
• Air medical transport
• EMS billing services
• Prehospital medical education

Headquarters

HQ city

Reno

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Emergency Ambulance Services: Exclusive ground ambulance operator contracts for Merced County and Lassen County. Revenue from emergency medical transport services billed to patients, insurance, Medicare/Medicaid, and private pay.
2. Air Medical Transport: HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Services) providing pre-hospital and hospital-to-hospital critical care transportation. Services provided through partnership with Air Methods Corporation for aviation services.
3. EMS Membership Programs: Gold Saver Membership for ground ambulance service in Lassen County operation; Advantage membership for air ambulance services through Air Methods partnership.
4. EMS Billing Services: Provides specialized billing and ICD10 compliant solutions for other ambulance and transportation services. Revenue from management and billing service contracts.
5. MedExpress Wheelchair Transportation: Non-emergency wheelchair transportation services in Reno, Nevada and Merced County, California.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

SEMSA is the parent organization for an integrated emergency medical services portfolio: it is the exclusive ground ambulance operator for Merced County, CA (via wholly owned Riggs Ambulance Service) and Lassen County, CA, operates air medical transport through two Bell 407 helicopters (SEMSA Air 1 and SEMSA Air 2) staffed by critical care flight crews, runs MedExpress non-emergency wheelchair transport in Reno, NV and Merced County, CA, and delivers EMS billing, EMS management, and prehospital/disaster medicine education through its ICPDM division. It also offers Gold Saver and Advantage subscription memberships that entitle members to ambulance and air ambulance coverage.

Product overview

SEMSA (Sierra Medical Services Alliance) is a private, not-for-profit Nevada-based corporation established in 2000, providing a comprehensive emergency medical services portfolio. The company operates a multi-service model consisting of: ground ambulance services (via SEMSA and Riggs Ambulance Service as exclusive operators in Lassen and Merced Counties respectively); air medical helicopter services through SEMSA Air 1 and SEMSA Air 2 using Bell 407 helicopters; MedExpress wheelchair transportation; and EMS education/training via the International Center for Prehospital and Disaster Medicine (ICPDM). Supporting services include EMS management, EMS billing (ICD10 compliant), and specialized programs such as Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS), Pulse Point, and pit crew CPR training. The company also offers the Gold Saver membership program for ground ambulance coverage and manages billing through an online patient portal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MedExpress: Wheelchair transportation services operating in Reno, Nevada and Merced, California.
• SEMSA Air
• ICPDM (International Center for Prehospital and Disaster Medicine)
• Gold Saver Membership

Products and services

• SEMSA Ground Ambulance Services Exclusive ground ambulance operator providing 911 emergency medical services in Lassen County, California (via SEMSA, Susanville) and in Merced County, California (via wholly owned Riggs Ambulance Service), operating under re-awarded 10-year exclusive contracts with each county.
• SEMSA Air (Air Medical Helicopter Services) Air medical helicopter transport providing pre-hospital and hospital-to-hospital critical care transportation using Bell 407 helicopters equipped with state-of-the-art critical care medical equipment, each staffed by a critical care flight nurse, critical care flight paramedic, and experienced EMS pilot, with aviation services delivered through partnership with Air Methods.
• MedExpress (Wheelchair Transportation) Non-emergency wheelchair transportation services providing accessible medical transport for mobility-limited patients in Reno, Nevada and Merced County, California, operating under the MedExpress sub-brand of SEMSA.
• EMS Billing Services Fully automated, ICD10-compliant billing solution specialized for ambulance and medical transport providers, supporting submissions to private insurance, private pay patients, and Medicare/Medicaid, offered as a contracted billing service to other ambulance and transportation agencies (e.g., Escalon and Patterson Ambulance Services).
• EMS Management Services Day-to-day operational management and oversight for partner ambulance services, including developing high-performance ambulance operations, offered under contract to other ambulance and transportation agencies (e.g., Escalon Ambulance Service, Patterson Ambulance Service).
• International Center for Prehospital and Disaster Medicine (ICPDM) Education and training service delivering traditional classroom and distance-learning courses in prehospital, tactical, and disaster medicine to healthcare professionals in rural, frontier, and international locations, serving as a regional training center for the National Disaster Life Support Foundation.
• Gold Saver Membership Recurring membership program for residents of SEMSA's Lassen County service area providing pre-paid coverage benefits for ground ambulance transport under SEMSA's exclusive Lassen County franchise.
• Advantage Membership (Air Ambulance) Air ambulance membership program offered through SEMSA's partnership with Air Methods Corporation, providing integrated air medical transport coverage for patients needing helicopter evacuation or critical care transfers.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Air Methods CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAir Methods provides all aviation services for SEMSA Air including pilots and mechanics. Partnership offers Advantage membership program for air ambulance services, providing integrated air medical transport for patients needing helicopter evacuation or critical care transfers.
• Southern Cascades EMScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Services) to underserved area of Adin, California. SEMSA Air 2 operates from this location.
• National Disaster Life Support FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICPDM (International Center for Prehospital and Disaster Medicine) is a regional training center for the NDLS Foundation, teaching NDLS core, basic and advanced disaster classes under contracts with the States of Oregon and Washington.
• California Ambulance AssociationminorOthersProfessional membership association for ambulance services in California. SEMSA COO serves on Board of Directors.
• California Association of Air Medical ServicesminorOthersProfessional membership association for air medical services in California.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Falck USA: Falck is a global private EMS provider with a significant California and western US footprint, providing 911, interfacility, and community paramedicine services. Falck competes head-to-head with SEMSA for municipal and county EMS contracts and operates with a similar integrated ground ambulance + billing model.
• Medic Ambulance Service: Medic Ambulance is a private California-based 911 and interfacility ambulance provider serving Solano County and surrounding Northern California communities. It is comparable to SEMSA in size, business model (exclusive county contracts), and Northern California operating territory.
• Air Methods Corporation: Air Methods is the largest US air medical transport operator and the strategic aviation partner that supplies aircraft, pilots, and mechanics to SEMSA Air. While not a customer-facing competitor for SEMSA's specific bases, Air Methods operates competing HEMS programs in overlapping geographies and could be considered both a partner and an adjacent competitor.
• LifeFlight Network: LifeFlight Network is a nonprofit air medical transport program serving the Pacific Northwest and Northern California with helicopter and fixed-wing critical care transport. It is comparable to SEMSA Air in mission, rural base footprint, and reliance on hospital/health system partnerships.
• ProTransport-1: ProTransport-1 is a private ambulance and medical transport company based in Northern California offering 911, interfacility, and critical care transport. It is a direct peer to SEMSA's Riggs and MedExpress operations in the California EMS market.
• PHI Air Medical: PHI Air Medical is one of the largest US air ambulance operators, providing HEMS and critical care transport in the western US including rural regions. It competes with SEMSA Air for hospital and community air medical contracts in overlapping geographies.
• Royal Ambulance: Royal Ambulance is a private California-based EMS and medical transport provider offering ground ambulance, interfacility, and event medical services across Northern and Central California. It is a direct comparable to SEMSA's Riggs and MedExpress operations and competes for similar county and hospital transport contracts.
• REACH Air Medical Services (now part of Global Medical Response): REACH provides helicopter EMS and critical care transport across California and the western US, directly comparable to SEMSA Air 1 and Air 2. Both operate Bell-class helicopters serving rural and semi-rural communities with critical care flight crews.
• NorCal Ambulance: NorCal Ambulance is a private EMS provider serving Northern California with ground ambulance, BLS/ALS transport, and special event medical services. It is directly comparable to SEMSA's rural California ground ambulance operations and competes for similar county and hospital contracts.

Broad incumbents

• American Medical Response (AMR) / Global Medical Response: AMR is the largest private ambulance and EMS provider in the United States and the most direct large-scale competitor for SEMSA's exclusive county EMS contracts. Both companies compete on similar RFPs for 911 and interfacility ambulance services, and AMR's national scale and capital access make it the principal threat to SEMSA's county contract renewals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/semsaairground
• Instagraminstagram.com/semsaems

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries8 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 SEMSA