A Ross Township couple is accused of turning insurance reimbursements for ambulance rides into their own private cash stream, with investigators alleging they pocketed nearly $8,000 that was supposed to help keep Ross/West View EMS and Rescue on the road.
Stacie and Wallace Hodge have been charged with theft and criminal conspiracy after investigators say the pair collected insurance money tied to six ambulance transports and never passed the funds along to the North Hills emergency agency. For a service already warning that even modest losses can hurt, that alleged shortfall is more than just a rounding error.
What Investigators Say Happened
According to WPXI, Ross Township police say insurance reimbursement checks meant for Ross/West View EMS and Rescue were instead deposited directly into a checking account belonging to Wallace Hodge.
Investigators told WPXI that the money stemmed from six ambulance transports. When police reached out to Stacie Hodge, she reportedly said the funds had been used to pay bills, according to the station’s reporting.
The same report notes that Shaler Township police are now looking into a similar issue involving Shaler-Hampton EMS, suggesting the alleged problem might not be confined to just one department.
EMS Leaders Say Missing Money Hits Hard
Ross/West View EMS officials told WPXI that the missing insurance reimbursements are far from a minor inconvenience. The loss, they say, can force the agency to “draw down on whatever savings we may have” or lean on credit just to cover payroll and basic supplies.
“Eight thousand dollars is a big deal,” Steve Kline said in the interview, underscoring how gaps like this can ripple through daily operations and make it tougher to reliably staff and stock ambulances.
How Ross/West View EMS Stays Afloat
Ross/West View EMS provides 24/7 emergency and non-emergency medical services for several North Hills municipalities. According to Ross/West View EMS, the authority answers more than 11,000 emergency calls a year and has long warned that funding pressures are a constant concern.
The agency has sought help from local governments and put an annual EMS fee in place in an effort to stabilize its finances. With that mix of municipal support, donations, and insurance reimbursements, agency officials say missed payments can quickly snowball into operational shortfalls.
Investigation Status And Public Records
Ross Township police are leading the investigation and have charged Stacie and Wallace Hodge with theft and criminal conspiracy. The department has not released additional court dates related to the case.
Residents who want official documents tied to the investigation can go through the township’s standard records process. As noted on Ross Township's public contacts page, the police records office is listed and outlines the right-to-know procedures for requesting case-related records.
