EMS funding: Cloquet fire district hopes for funds

When asked about proposed legislation to aid emergency medical services across the state, Cloquet Area Fire District chief Jesse Buhs said he believes CAFD “would be eligible for the proposed funding that will reach the Northeastern part of the state.”

The fire district has supported the $120 million funding bill proposed by the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, but Buhs is hopeful CAFD could see part of whatever funds are allocated for EMS services.

CAFD provides fire protection to 170 square miles and ambulance service to a state-mandated area of more than 250 square miles in Carlton County and southern St. Louis County. Unlike many rural ambulance services, CAFD provides advanced life support, which requires substantially more training and equipment for its staff.

“Until Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement for ambulance services comes close to reflecting the true cost of providing the ambulance response, services will continue to operate at a loss, and municipal services will need to be subsidized locally, or by the state,” Buhs told the Pine Knot. “The demographic shift/aging rural population in Minnesota has impacted the CAFD’s ambulance reimbursements and we are seeing an increase in all costs associated with providing the service.”

The fact that many people don’t consider ambulance response an essential public service is part of the issue, Buhs said, yet they assume it is available and will respond quickly with highly trained personnel when needed.

“Should Governor Walz and our legislators appropriate more funding for ambulance services? Absolutely!” Buhs said. “There should never be a need to have a bake sale or spaghetti feed to ensure you can buy a new ambulance, or purchase a cardiac monitor.”

As the first combined fire and ambulance district in the state with taxing authority, CAFD is being looked at as a model for other parts of the state hoping to stabilize ambulance services. Being able to tax property owners is a vital part of that stability.

“There should not be a community in Minnesota that receives an ambulance from a municipal service that does not financially support its operation,” Buhs said.

Issues also remain on the legislative side.

“Priorities of our political representatives need to include all public safety services, and there needs to be a shift in our focus on the long-term sustainability of ambulance services,” he added.