Keystone Ambulance Service

From all of us at Keystone Ambulance, Happy Easter!

Having seen first hand how the insurance companies can have different “allowed” rates depending on the provider this is a huge step in the right direction to ensure continued sustainability of EMS in South Dakota!

ACT NOW: Support SB 211! 🚨
Ambulance services save lives every day, but many EMS providers struggle to cover costs due to low reimbursement from private insurance. SB 211 ensures fair payment, helping EMS agencies maintain equipment, staff, and 24/7 care—especially in rural communities.

📝 Take action: Contact your legislator today and ask them to vote YES on SB 211! Your voice matters!

Learn more and find your legislator 👉 https://sdlegislature.gov/

Congrats to our Assistant Director Margaret for being selected as the South Dakota Instructor Coordinator Society Instructor of the Year!

Congrats to all of the class, especially to our staff member Gideon! Do great things!

So yesterday was a pretty busy day for us and to top it off we had our second ambulance have some mechanical issues resulting in it needing to be taken out of service. While it is never a good time to be down a truck, this week is probably the worst week for it to happen. Thanks to our friends with Rapid City Fire Department we are back up in service with two ambulances until we can get our other one fixed and back in service! Neigbors helping neighbors that's for sure!

Some may say that this is just the “big services” trying to expand and take over. That is not the case. If this goes through the cities and counties would work with the existing services to ensure that the service is available. This is a real problem in our area. The entire eastern part of Custer county is currently covered by Rapid City Fire Department with a small contract from the county. There is no obligation to continue to provide the service and at any time they could say no more, and that entire area would be without an ambulance. Thankfully they continue to provide this vital service with very little compensation. We’ve been asked to pick that area up before and we just don’t have the staffing to manage covering both our district and that area as well. Please contact your reps and let them know how important this is to ensure the services are available when needed!

🚑 EMS Services Are Essential for South Dakota 🚑

Did you know that in South Dakota, EMS services are not classified as "essential" like fire departments and law enforcement? Think about it—when you or a loved one is facing a medical emergency, isn’t your expectation that an ambulance will arrive immediately, staffed with trained professionals ready to save lives? Yet, the critical role EMS plays in our communities often goes unnoticed until it’s needed most.

The Problem: EMS services are not guaranteed funding or support at the same level as fire or police. This means many ambulance services, especially in rural areas, struggle to stay operational. Staffing shortages, budget cuts, and increasing call volumes only make it harder to deliver life-saving care. When services shut down, response times increase, and lives are put at risk.

The Solution: HB1043 HB1043 is a vital step toward ensuring EMS is recognized as essential across South Dakota. This bill will provide critical support to ambulance services, helping them:

🚨 Secure consistent funding for operations
🚨 Recruit and retain qualified staff
🚨 Invest in updated equipment and training
🚨 Guarantee access to care, no matter where you live

Why Should EMS Be Essential?
We all expect an ambulance to be there when we call 911—ready, equipped, and staffed. Why should EMS be any less of a priority than fire or law enforcement? Emergencies don’t discriminate, and neither should our policies.

How You Can Help:
✅ Educate yourself about HB1043 and its impact.
✅ Contact your legislators and urge them to support this bill.
✅ Share this post to spread awareness about the importance of EMS services.

Let’s work together to ensure that South Dakotans, no matter where they live, have access to the emergency care they deserve. Because when seconds count, so does EMS. 💙
https://sdlegislature.gov/Session/Bill/25606/274264?Year=2025