Emergency Medical Services Interim Committee

Representative Jana Hunt, Co-Chair

Senator Tim Reed, Co-Chair

First Meeting, 2025 Interim Room 413 – State Capitol

Monday, June 30, 2025 Pierre, South Dakota

The first interim meeting of the Emergency Medical Services Interim Committee was called to order by Senator Tim Reed at 9:00 a.m. (CT) on Monday, June 30, 2025, in Room 413 of the State Capitol, Pierre, South Dakota.

A quorum was determined with the following members answering roll call: Representatives Eric Emery, Josephine Garcia, David Kull, Tim Walburg, and Jana Hunt, Co-Chair; and Senators Tamara Grove, Kevin Jensen, Curt Voight, and Senator Tim Reed, Co-Chair.

Staff members present included Matthew Server, Research Analyst; Bill Douglas, Fiscal Analyst; Dilyn Tramp, IT Support Specialist; and DeLaney Lewis, Administrative Specialist.

NOTE: For the purpose of continuity, the following minutes are not necessarily in chronological order. All referenced documents distributed at the meeting are hyperlinked to the document on the Legislative Research Council website. This meeting was live streamed. Each section contains a hyperlink to the time stamp pertaining to that item in the archived live stream available at sdlegislature.gov.

South Dakota Department of Health

Ms. Melissa Magstadt, Secretary, Department of Health, and Mr. Marty Link, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Director, Department of Health, Sioux Falls, shared a presentation on the overview of the Department of Health's EMS and Trauma program, as well as an ambulance system study, workforce challenges, workforce opportunities, and funding models (Document 1). They also shared handouts on Medicaid Reimbursement rates (Document 2) and a map of ambulance services across South Dakota (Document 3). (05:18.760)

Ms. Magstadt and Mr. Link answered questions from the committee. (01:10:18.100)

South Dakota Emergency Medical Services Association

Mr. Maynard Konechne, South Dakota EMS Association, shared the history of emergency medical service in South Dakota and the challenges faced by providers. (01:36:48.680)

Avel eCare

Mr. Mark Johnston, Government Affairs Director of Avel eCare, and Ms. Rebecca VandeKieft, Vice President and General Manager of Avel eCare, shared a presentation demonstrating the use of telemedicine in EMS in South Dakota with a tour of an ambulance (Document 4). (02:16:41.720)

The committee asked Mr. Johnston and Ms. VandeKieft questions on their presentation. (02:55:32.360)

Emergency Medical Services in South Dakota

Mr. Brad Derschen, Ambulance Director, Lemmon Ambulance Service, Lemmon, SD, and Ms. Carrie Derschen, Treasurer, Lemmon Ambulance Service, Lemmon, SD, provided a handout (Document 5) and provided insight on the billing and reimbursements their ambulance service receives (Document 6). (03:13:23.800)

Mr. Brian Hambeck, President, South Dakota Ambulance Association, shared challenges facing emergency medical services in South Dakota. (03:29:49.380)

Ms. Annette Slaba, EMS Director, Harding County, shared the challenges of emergency medical services in Harding County. (03:48:13.860)

Public Comments

Mr. Jerome Harvey, Fire Administrator, Pennington County, shared his thoughts on what classifies an essential service and the funding behind emergency medical services in South Dakota. (04:00:03.240)

Mr. Sam Frochlke, Self, Toronto, shared concerns about transparency in the funding of emergency medical services. (04:00:03.240)

The committee discussed everything they heard and put an emphasis on the funding issues and the lengthy and time-consuming process of getting certified and renewing that certification. (04:36:48.420)

Adjournment

Senator Reed moved, seconded by Representative Kull, that the Emergency Medical Services Interim Committee be adjourned. The motion prevailed on a voice vote. (05:00:32.940)

The Emergency Medical Services Interim Committee adjourned at 2:49 p.m. (CT).