Lee County Unable to Reach EMS Provider Agreement, Faces Service Disruption

Officials say negotiations with MedEx broke down over 'critically important' issues, leaving county scrambling to find new provider before current contract expires.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 12:09am

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A minimalist, high-end studio still life photograph featuring a collection of medical equipment and supplies, including an oxygen tank, defibrillator, and emergency medical kit, arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic background to conceptually represent the critical importance of reliable emergency medical services.A premium medical equipment display symbolizes the vital role of uninterrupted emergency services in Lee County's community.Sanford Today

Lee County, North Carolina is facing the potential loss of emergency medical services (EMS) after failing to reach an agreement with its intended new provider, MedEx. The county had awarded MedEx a contract in January to begin providing EMS on July 1, but negotiations broke down over what officials described as 'critically important' unresolved issues. With the current EMS provider, FirstHealth of the Carolinas, set to end its contract on July 1, the county is now urgently seeking a new agreement to ensure continued services.

Why it matters

Reliable emergency medical services are essential for public safety and community well-being. The potential disruption of these vital services in Lee County raises concerns about access to timely, life-saving care, especially in rural and underserved areas. This situation also highlights the challenges counties can face in managing complex EMS contracts and provider transitions.

The details

According to Lee County officials, they were negotiating an EMS franchise agreement with MedEx, which had been awarded the contract in January to replace FirstHealth as the county's EMS provider starting July 1. However, the county and MedEx were unable to reach common ground on what officials described as 'critically important' outstanding issues related to operational stability, financial certainty, and consistent service delivery. As a result, the negotiations could not proceed further, and the county will now seek a new EMS provider before the current contract with FirstHealth expires.

  • Lee County awarded the EMS contract to MedEx in January 2026.
  • The new MedEx-provided EMS services were scheduled to begin on July 1, 2026.
  • The current EMS contract with FirstHealth of the Carolinas is set to expire on July 1, 2026.

The players

Lee County

The local government in Lee County, North Carolina that is responsible for securing emergency medical services for its residents.

MedEx

The EMS provider company that was awarded the Lee County EMS contract in January 2026 but was unable to reach an agreement with the county on the terms of the contract.

FirstHealth of the Carolinas

The current EMS provider for Lee County, whose contract is set to expire on July 1, 2026.

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What they’re saying

“At that point, it became apparent that we were not going to find common ground on these outstanding issues and negotiations could not proceed further.”

— Lee County Officials

“MedEx remains fully confident in its ability to provide efficient 911 emergency medical services and stands firmly behind the strength of its proposal.”

— MedEx

What’s next

Lee County officials say they are now looking to enter into an agreement with another EMS provider to ensure continued services for residents before the current contract with FirstHealth expires on July 1, 2026.

The takeaway

This breakdown in negotiations between Lee County and its intended new EMS provider, MedEx, highlights the critical importance of counties carefully managing complex EMS contracts and provider transitions to ensure uninterrupted access to emergency medical services for their communities. The potential disruption of these vital services raises concerns about public safety and the county's ability to provide timely, life-saving care, especially in rural areas.