In the governor’s State of the State address earlier this month, he announced a plan to support and “stabilize” Wisconsin’s EMS system statewide with a nearly $30 million investment.
Gov. Tony Evers’ plan includes efforts to supplement the Funding Assistance Program, which provides annual grants to all public ambulance service providers, including volunteer fire departments, nonprofits, and counties and municipalities; create a new grant program to help those providers who are not eligible for FAP; and fund a 16 percent reimbursement rate increase for private and municipal ambulance providers for emergency medical transportation.
According to Evers’ release, since 2011, state aid to communities has gone down even as costs have gone up. Help from the state was cut by more than 9 percent while public safety costs have increased more than 16 percent.
“In Wisconsin, we rely on nearly 800 emergency medical service providers — more than half are either operated exclusively by volunteers or through a combination of volunteers and paid staff,” the guv says. “These folks are doing outstanding work, but many have been doing it for years, and it’s sometimes difficult finding new volunteers to step into these important roles.”
Under his plan, every emergency medical service and emergency medical response provider will qualify for funding. Provided through the state’s federal American Rescue Plan Act funding, $20 million will go to EMS providers across the state for whatever help they need the most, whether it’s increasing staffing support; more training for first responders; or purchasing an ambulance, medical equipment or supplies.
Of that $20 million, $8 million will go to FAP. This investment will bring the total funding available to those eligible providers to $10.2 million for fiscal year 2023. The remaining $12 million of this investment will be provided as one-time, flexible grants, prioritizing small, under-resourced EMS providers who do not qualify for FAP to use for whatever they need, including staffing, equipment, supplies or other expenses.
Additionally, the Wisconsin Medicaid program reimburses private and municipal ambulance providers for emergency medical transportation, and the governor’s 2021-23 biennial budget included a rate increase that went into effect on Jan. 1.
Despite the recent rate increase, Medicaid rates are still below Medicare and commercial rates, contributing to an erosion of EMS provider stability. In light of this, and in addition to the $20 million investment, Gov. Evers announced a plan to use $7.4 million all funds to implement an additional 16 percent rate increase for emergency transportation providers.
Dave Polzin says
I am a first responder. Thank you! But to be clear.. Evers isnt the supporter. Its a few acctual (net) Taxpayers that area the “acctual ” supporters. Evers is a life long redistributor of taxpayers money.