FARGO (KFGO-KVRR) – Area ambulance service providers say they have been in crisis for many years when it comes to funding and staffing.
“We’ve been sounding the alarm for quite a while. We’ve been talking about EMS in crisis. Not only is it the expenses going up, but it’s the revenue coming down. The reimbursements from Medicare haven’t moved, and Medicaid hasn’t moved to keep up with the costs,” said Ken Krupich, General Manager for Ringdahl EMS.
Ringdahl EMS serves parts of North Dakota and Minnesota. Krupich said there have been many conversations with state legislators and local governments over the last 15 years, but there has yet to be a solution.
“We’re losing money every time we walk out the door for a Medicare patient. So Medicare reimbursements have to come up, Medicaid has to come up,” said Krupich.
The recent survey of three dozen providers in the state, conducted by PWW Advisory Group, was the result of a study created by House Bill 1322 passed during the 2025 legislative session. The group presented the results to the Legislature’s interim Emergency Response Services Committee on Wednesday.
The average revenue generated from an ambulance transport was about $1,100 during 2025, but the expenses were nearly $1,600.
“It costs a lot of money to maintain the vehicles and to properly incentivize our personnel to care for patients in what’s often their worst day. And these are tough situations,” said Dr. Christopher Anderson, Essentia Health.
In Minnesota, the state has provided additional funding to supplement the losses. But the costs to travel, maintaining the equipment, the vehicle, and support is still not meeting their needs.
“Our hope is that we are able to buy time long enough for people to recognize that this is a crisis and it can’t continue the way it is. So we have to look at those subsidies and other revenues to keep it going,” said Krupich.
Both ambulance services are working to continue to stay in operation.
North Dakota ambulance providers losing money on every run, according to survey
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