History of the Program
1989 Wisconsin Act 102 became law on December 20, 1989. This law provided funding to certain ambulance services that provide first-in 9-1-1 patient transport ambulance response to a particular geographic area. The original formula has been modified over the years. The current annual allocation is authorized by Wisconsin Statute 256.12(4).
Funds are now disseminated via a plan approved as part of the current budget bill. This consists of a two-part formula payment on behalf of each transporting ambulance service and includes a base sum plus a factor based on run volume, service area population, and EMT roster size.
Per 256.12(4), funds allocated under this program shall "supplement existing budgeted monies of or provided to an ambulance service provider and may not be used to replace, decrease or release for alternative purposes the existing budgeted monies of or provided to the ambulance service provider." In short, EMS-FAP dollars cannot be used to reduce existing EMS funding. The statute also allows that EMS-FAP funding can be used for the purchase of ambulance vehicles, vehicle equipment and emergency medical service non-disposable supplies and equipment as well as emergency medical training for ambulance service personnel.
Application for Funding
Each year, the ambulance service provider is asked to complete an application form. The application timeline process is as follows:
- Application materials will be available to EMS service directors in E-Licensing. The application is located under "New Applications." Beginning with the SFY 2016 funding cycle applications will only be accepted via E-Licensing.
- Applications are due by 5:00 p.m., May 31, 2016.
- Any incomplete applications received after May 31, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. will be denied.
- Disbursement will be made to the services no later than August 31, 2015.
- Expenditure reports for the previous full state fiscal year should be submitted to our office with the current year's application.
- Signed Population Verification forms will no longer be needed from your municipalities or attached to the application. Populations still do need to be included on the application, however. Please use the DOA Municipal Population Estimate sheet located as a link at the bottom of this webpage to determine the total population of your service area.
- EMT Basic training funds no longer need to be returned to the Department of Health Services if unused. These funds still need to be used exclusively for EMT Basic initial or refresher training, but these funds can be escrowed from year to year and used to assist new or existing EMT Basic staff.
- If your service does not have an anticipated need for the EMT basic funds, you will have the ability to opt out of receiving these funds. This will help the services who can benefit from receiving these EMT Basic training funds.
Accountability
The EMS Section is tasked with accountability for the distribution and use of the FAP money. Funds cannot be used to supplant existing budgets, and are to be used to support and improve the ambulance service.
The expense reporting period includes the previous FULL state fiscal year. For SFY 2017, the expense report submitted should include SFY 2015 (July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015).
Part of our statutory and fiscal responsibility requires that we review and approve expenses. In the past we have found some questionable purchases. Please review the updated expense form for clarification of allowable expenses.
Examples of appropriate expenditures would include: initial and/or refresher training expenses, a new ambulance, ambulance equipment or defibrillators, mileage and/or stipend for attending EMS training, training officer salary, contractual training on various subjects, computers and computer software purchased for training purposes, various pieces of hard/durable medical equipment to be placed on the ambulance, etc. Any of these items are appropriate as are many others, as long as the funds are not used to fund expenses that are already included in your normal operating budget.
EMS-FAP funds should not be used to pay for everyday maintenance, but major unexpected repairs and unexpected vehicle and equipment replacements may be appropriate. Examples of other inappropriate expenditures would be the purchase of medical supplies for restocking the ambulance, purchase of fire trucks and fire supplies, banquet dinner and bar bills, gifts, etc.
If you have a doubt about an appropriate expenditure, contact the EMS-FAP program coordinator for a determination.
Payee Information
As part of the application, the ambulance service provider is asked to designate its "type of service." Choices include: municipal/public agency, non-stock non-profit corporation, private for-profit corporation, and other. State accounting policies mandate that checks for a public agency be paid to the treasurer of a municipality. (Checks for ambulance service providers that are public agencies are made payable to the designated municipality.) Wisconsin Statute 256.12 mandates that allocations to private-for-profit ambulance services be paid to the contracting municipality. Checks for ambulance service providers that are for-profit services are also made payable to the designated municipality. If the ambulance service is organized as a non-profit corporation under Wis. Stat. chapter 181, the check is made payable to the ambulance service.
Municipalities are given specific instructions with each check on what the EMS-FAP funds are to be used for. The municipality can choose to: 1) turn over the check to the ambulance service; 2) run the check through its books and issue a new check to the ambulance service; or 3) keep the money and records of the money and pay the ambulance service as it presents invoices/paid receipts for appropriate expenditures. In any case, the money must be allocated to the ambulance service provider.
For further information, please contact the EMS-FAP program coordinator at 608-261-9306 or via email at Paul.Wittkamp@wisconsin.gov.
