Fire Departments receive rural tax funds, doesn’t Fire Departments split this money with EMS?
No, EMS does not receive any portion of the rural township funds that are collected for fire protection. These funds are collected to support rural fire protection within a specific response area and does not go towards EMS response. Rural townships may choose to donate to EMS services in their area if they want to but they are not required to support EMS or provide any funding for EMS.
Is there a difference between EMS and EMT?
Yes, while the terms emergency medical technician (EMT) and emergency medical services (EMS) tend to be used interchangeably, they are actually two very different things. EMS is an entire field of emergency medicine, which the EMTs or Paramedics are both a part of. Basically, an EMT is a trained emergency medical technician (the employee, volunteer or specialist) who can handle emergency medicine calls. The career field in which they work is considered to be EMS.
Who funds EMS in Tama County now?
For the 7 transporting services in Tama County, the municipalities fund those services through revenue from calls paid by insurance companies, patients and then by whatever means determined through city general funding for the shortfall.
The 2 non-transporting services are funded through donations and fund raisers only. Their municipalities do not budget for the services provided by these services. They also do not charge for their services.
Will this tax replace the funding that the municipalities provide?
No, if passed, the Essential Service tax collected will supplement the current sources of funding.
How many Ambulance Services are there in Tama County?
Tama County has 7 transport Ambulance Services and 2 non-transport services that cover 721 square miles of land making it the 9th largest county by total area in the state.
How many certified providers live in Tama County
How many hours of education is needed to keep EMS certifications current?
Iowa EMS providers recertify every two years and must complete a minimum number of core topic continuing education hours (CEHs), based on the level of certification. Below are the minimum numbers of CEHs by certification level.
How many states recognize EMS as an essential service?
As of September 12, 2023, 13 states and the District of Columbia have passed laws designating or allowing local governments to deem EMS as an essential service, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, a think tank that has been tracking legislation around the issue.
What is Senate File 615?
Signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds in June 2021, it provides the framework for counties to deem EMS services essential. It allows them to create a referendum to raise property taxes to fund EMS.
What is the meaning of essential services?
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, essential services means the basic public needs, such as water, gas, and electricity, which are often supplied to people’s houses, or necessary social services such as education and health care.
Who is eligible to receive money from this tax fund?
As required by Senate File 615: Division X. Sec. 55, 422D.6. Subsection 1. A county authorized to impose a tax under this chapter shall establish an emergency medical services trust fund into which revenues received from the taxes imposed shall be deposited. Money in the trust fund shall be used for emergency medical services.
Why do we need to pay more taxes for EMS? Doesn’t the ambulance charge me for being transported already?
Currently, ambulance services can only charge if they transport the patient to a hospital or specialized care center except in cases defined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Therefore, many ambulance calls for service do not result in billed charges. First responder units cannot bill for any of their responses.
Ambulances frequently have instances where a patient is treated and released yet there are still expenses related to the response. Patient assists in their homes such as for lift assist or wellness checks, life-line calls are not eligible for reimbursement by insurance companies.
Insurance reimbursement often pays only a fraction of the cost incurred to cover the costs associated with providing 24/7 ambulance coverage or readiness. Medicare, Medicaid and most corporate insurance companies use fee schedules, therefore they will only allow the amount on their fee schedule regardless of what the ambulance service bills.
Most services are struggling with adequate staffing and increasingly expensive equipment required to maintain the standard of patient care. EMS in Tama County has traditionally been provided by dedicated volunteers who were often able to leave work to attend to the needs of the community. But as our Main Streets have either lost these businesses or have become more corporate, the ability to leave work is no longer available. A decrease in volunteers coupled with increased education requirements along with increased expectations for EMS care capabilities has resulted in paid staff to cover gaps in staffing.
