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County ambulance reports 2,264 calls, grants and under-budget 2024 performance
Summary
Yankton County ambulance leadership told the commission the service handled 2,264 calls in 2024 with 1,443 transports, received state grants totaling $21,139.55, and reported operating under its 2024 budget.
YANKTON — Ambulance leadership reported the county’s 2024 operational and financial results to the commission, including call volumes, grant receipts and staffing levels.
The presenter said the ambulance service logged 2,264 calls for service in 2024 and completed 1,443 transports. He told commissioners the service received two grants from the South Dakota Department of Health totaling $21,139.55 for education equipment and a patient-care system to reduce medication errors.
Staffing figures presented included seven full-time paramedics (including administration), six full-time EMTs and 20 part-time employees. The presenter said three local staff members were enrolled in paramedic school.
On finance, the ambulance director said the 2024 budget was $1,432,267 and the service used about $1,410,665 (presenter’s figure), leaving what he described as roughly $21,602 under budget; he noted one grant-related reimbursement was still pending and the under-run might be closer to $33,000 once processed. The billing department, he said, has improved revenue collection after fixing a software setting that left about $140,000 in self-pay accounts unbilled; staff corrected the issue and expect collections to improve.
Commissioners praised the billing and operational improvements and asked about how potential state Medicaid changes could affect the service. The ambulance director said losing Medicaid funding would harm the service, and he asked legislators to consider those risks.
