SOUTH DAKOTA – South Dakota lawmakers are considering a regional approach to ambulance services as they work to address ongoing staffing shortages and funding challenges in rural communities.
The Emergency Medical Services Funding Task Force met this week in Pierre and agreed that regionalizing ambulance services could help preserve emergency care in sparsely populated areas while guaranteeing a basic level of coverage statewide.
Lawmakers say the plan would likely require additional state funding, since Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements often fall short of covering service costs. The task force is also discussing potential new revenue sources and creating a permanent advisory council to oversee long-term EMS reforms.
Officials say any solution will take several years to implement, but they hope to bring recommendations to the Legislature during the 2027 session.
The goal is to ensure rural South Dakotans continue to have reliable access to emergency medical care while creating a more sustainable system for the future.
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