Marion County Secures Funding for Emergency Medical Services via Medicaid Program

During its Sept. 16 meeting, the Marion County Board of County Commissioners took action to strengthen emergency medical services for residents by approving a public emergency transportation agreement with the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA).

The agreement is part of the public emergency medical transport (PEMT) program, which helps counties recover the full cost of ambulance services provided to Medicaid patients. Standard Medicaid reimbursements often fall short of covering these costs. Through PEMT, local governments can leverage federal Medicaid dollars to close the gap and bring much-needed revenue back into the community without raising local taxes.

Here's how it works:

• Marion County will make an intergovernmental transfer payment of $3.7 million to AHCA.

• AHCA then secures a federal Medicaid match, returning $8.7 million in realized revenues to Marion County.

• Those funds go directly to Marion County Fire Rescueto support emergency medical transportation services.

All PEMT funds are restricted to Medicaid-eligible emergency medical transportation services, ensuring they are used specifically for community health and safety. Per the agreement:

• Funds are exclusively designated for the PEMT program.

• Payments to AHCA are due by Oct. 31, unless otherwise approved.

• All revenues and expenditures will comply with Florida's public records laws and remain subject to state and federal audits.

By approving the agreement ahead of the Oct. 1 deadline, the county commission has secured critical Medicaid-related reimbursements that help offset the high cost of emergency care while protecting local taxpayers.

For more information about Marion County Fire Rescue and its services, visit MarionFL.org/MCFR.