Rising 911 calls and EMS billing gaps prompt Sumner County questions on costs and staffing

Members of the Sumner County Health and Emergency Services Committee on April 6 reviewed emergency call-volume data and questioned EMS finances and staffing.

An ECC representative reported 5,000 911 calls in January, 3,000 in February and 4,343 in March, totaling 13,279 year-to-date, and warned continued warm weather could push call volumes higher into late spring and early summer. Committee members said outgoing and incoming call totals and answered phone-call figures showed a significant month-to-month increase.

Commissioner Win asked detailed questions about EMS finances, citing a roughly $17 million annual EMS budget and a snapshot suggesting the service averages a monthly operational loss; a separate line in the packet showed 85 days of accounts receivable totaling about $1.2 million. Speakers explained that billed ambulance fees are often higher than insurer or Medicaid reimbursement, leaving the county to absorb losses when insurers pay less than billed amounts or patients cannot pay remaining balances. Staff also said limited staffing constrains the county's ability to expand revenue-generating scheduled transports (BLS) because medics must be available for 911 calls.

No formal budget action was taken at the meeting; members said they may review EMS finances further and, if necessary, request additional documentation to understand averages, fee schedules and potential budget impacts.