House Republicans Urge Passage Of $120 Million In Emergency Aid For Ambulance Services In Minnesota

By Caroline Cummings, CBS Minnesota

April 18, 2024

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Emergency medical services providers say they need a lifeline from the state legislature this session to the tune of $120 million to keep answering calls for help, especially in rural parts of Minnesota.

But a final deal at the capitol could fall short. DFL leaders in the majority and Gov. Tim Walz in their top-line supplemental spending agreement earmarked $16 million instead.

"This is not just a cry for help. For many services, it very well be the last gasp of air before we say, 'You know what, we can't do it anymore,'" said Josh Fischer, director of Stevens County Ambulance Service. "So we're looking to the state to support that statewide EMS safety net because every person that lives in and works in and visits our great state benefits from that safety net whether they ever have to call for an ambulance or not."

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