MED-ACT to increase capacity to meet growing community needs

Today the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners voted to create nine new full-time equivalent (FTE) positions to supplement MED-ACT staffing beginning in 2026. This action will increase ambulance coverage during high demand periods without increasing property taxes. A slight increase in user fees, still well below regional average fee rates, will reimburse costs for the new positions.

MED-ACT's IMPACT Program consists of three ambulances and six staff who currently provide services eight hours a day, Monday through Friday (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), the peak demand time period for ambulance services. These nine new FTEs will allow MED-ACT to increase the use of those ambulances to 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

Why is additional MED-ACT staffing needed?

As the population of Johnson County grows and ages, demand has increased for ambulance services:

• Call volume has surged 67% since 2010.
• Average daily call volume in 2025 is 156, with peaks as high as 236 in a single day.
• Sustained stress on the system extends well after the current peak IMPACT ambulances go off duty.

Johnson County MED-ACT has the goal of responding to 90% of emergent ambulance calls within 10 minutes. Due to increased demand, the department currently is not able to meet that goal.

How will additional staff be funded?

Instead of increasing property taxes for all taxpayers, the BOCC approved a slight increase in the fees paid by patients who use the ambulance service.

• Right now, the industry standard for ambulance fees is 2.5 to 3 times the Medicare reimbursement rate.
• Johnson County MED-ACT user fees are currently 1.8 times the Medicare reimbursement rate.
• Today's BOCC action approved increasing user fees to two times the Medicare reimbursement rate, which still falls well below Midwest regional average user fees for ambulance service.

Johnson County has not increased user fees since 2020. With the new increased fees, depending on the level of ambulance care provided, the increased rates will remain between about 18% to 22% lower than the average fees for similar service in other Midwestern states.

"Having an ambulance with highly trained staff arrive as quickly as possible to your home when you need it is a crucial service, and one upon which the residents of Johnson County rely," said BOCC Chairman Mike Kelly. "Unfortunately, there wasn't enough money available for these nine new positions in the 2026 budget, and the delay of getting the Public Safety Sales Tax on the ballot forced a stopgap solution. I applaud staff and policymakers for devising a thoughtful approach to fund this urgent, life-saving service in a way that does not further burden taxpayers and keeps user fees well below the average rates charged across the Midwest region. Our aging community's public safety needs continue to grow, and securing an ongoing funding source will be critical to maintaining and enhancing our public safety services."

"I greatly appreciate the support of our Board to help our team continue to save lives every day in Johnson County," said Paul Davis, Department of Emergency Services Director. "This will help to relieve the stress on our system during peak demand times for ambulance service, allowing us to strategically align resources with demand so we can get to your home more quickly, no matter what day or time you need us."