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Marquette County EMS to raise CPR fees, adds ambulance and staff; Medicaid non-transport pay to rise
Summary
The committee approved a 2026 EMS CPR fee schedule and heard updates: a new ambulance delivered, six hires (three starting orientation), ventilators in service, and that Act 36 will increase Medicaid reimbursement for non-transport from $69 to $175 starting Jan. 1, 2027.
Marquette County EMS Director Rob Lulling told the Judicial & Public Safety Committee on Nov. 4 that the department needs to raise CPR training fees to keep pace with American Heart Association increases and to cover new online course options and supply costs. The committee approved the presented 2026 CPR fee schedule (moved by Ken Borzick and seconded by Chuck Bornhoeft) and will forward it to the County Board.
Lulling said he hired six new employees last week, with three starting orientation the day of the meeting, and reported that a new ambulance was delivered last Thursday and is expected to be ready for service Dec. 1; he said the old ambulance will be sold through the Wisconsin Surplus auction site. Ventilators are in service on each ambulance. County Administrator Ron Barger said the county has received a $70,000 Medicaid payment for 2023 and expects $50,000 for 2024 soon.
Lulling noted that Wisconsin’s Act 36 increases Medicaid reimbursement for providing EMS care without a patient transport from $69 to $175, effective Jan. 1, 2027. He also described workforce pressures: scheduling is constrained by the union contract, the service has operated with four open positions since March (increasing overtime), and an employee on FMLA is expected to return, which should ease overtime by December.
The committee discussed forming an advisory group but agreed to keep EMS oversight within the Judicial & Public Safety Committee while researching options other jurisdictions use for scheduling and staffing.
