Clark County Ambulance Service Faces Critical Level Zero Instances Amid Medicaid Collection Issues

Spread the love

Clark County Board Meeting | February 20, 2026

Article Summary: The Clark County Ambulance Service reported hitting “level zero” availability six times over a single weekend, while simultaneously navigating revenue shortfalls caused by Medicaid processing errors and misdirected county funds.

Clark County Board Key Points:

  • Ambulance call volume has been extremely busy, resulting in the service hitting level zero six times over a recent weekend.

  • Collections are currently down due to a Medicaid issue, which the department has identified and is working to correct.

  • A separate financial issue involved ambulance funds being mistakenly directed to the Health Department.

  • A new ambulance is nearing completion and will soon join the active fleet.

The Clark County Board on Friday, February 20, 2026, reviewed a challenging monthly report from the Clark County Ambulance Service (CCAS), detailing periods of critical unavailability, billing hurdles, and administrative funding errors.

Chace Bramlett delivered the ambulance report for January 2026 during the committee reports section of the meeting. According to the minutes, Bramlett reported that call volume has been “extremely busy.” The high demand recently forced the service to operate at “level zero”—meaning no ambulances were available to dispatch—six times over a single weekend. Despite the strain on resources, Bramlett assured the board that response times have remained “very good.”

The department is also actively untangling a pair of financial complications. Bramlett reported that revenue collections have been down recently due to a specific issue with Medicaid processing. He noted that the source of the problem has been found and staff members are currently working to correct it.

Additionally, Bramlett informed the board of an administrative error where some of the designated ambulance funds were mistakenly directed toward the county’s Health Department. Efforts are underway to correct the misallocation and return the funds to the ambulance service.

On a positive operational note, Bramlett announced that a new ambulance is expected to be completed soon and will be integrated into the active fleet to help shoulder the high call volumes. He is also collaborating with the Farm Bureau to establish another Tourniquet Program for the community.

Following the operational update, Board Member Brandon Burkybile announced that Bramlett has been formally nominated for Director of the Year. The board indicated it will be sending a letter in support of his nomination.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

White House appoints interim CDC director; standoff continues with former director

White House appoints interim CDC director; standoff continues with former director

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square The White House has appointed Department of Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill as interim director for the Centers for Disease Control and...
WATCH: Pritzker claims Trump plans election interference with troop deployment

WATCH: Pritzker claims Trump plans election interference with troop deployment

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says President Donald Trump only wants troops on the ground to interfere in...
Plaintiffs take Cook County gun ban challenge to SCOTUS

Plaintiffs take Cook County gun ban challenge to SCOTUS

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Plaintiffs challenging Cook County’s ban on semi-automatic firearms are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to take the...
Illinois quick hits: $1.57B return on investments; solar-powered manufacturer cuts ribbon

Illinois quick hits: $1.57B return on investments; solar-powered manufacturer cuts ribbon

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square $1.57B return on investments Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs says his office made a record $1.57 billion in investment earnings from the...
Report: Illinois U.S. Rep faces minimal penalty after disclosure violations

Report: Illinois U.S. Rep faces minimal penalty after disclosure violations

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – According to a new report, Illinois U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson has violated federal law by making late...
18 were injured, 2 killed in Minneapolis shooting

18 were injured, 2 killed in Minneapolis shooting

By Jon StyfThe Center Square A total of 18 victims were injured and two were killed in a Wednesday shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis, a total reached after...
Trump HHS tells states to remove gender ideology from sex ed or lose PREP funding

Trump HHS tells states to remove gender ideology from sex ed or lose PREP funding

By Tate MillerThe Center Square The Trump administration directed 46 states and territories to remove gender ideology from their sex ed materials or else face possible termination of federal Personal...
Americans could face 'sticker shock' as once-small tax exemption ends

Americans could face ‘sticker shock’ as once-small tax exemption ends

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Americans could be in for a surprise when a nearly century-old trade rule that allowed shoppers to avoid President Donald Trump's tariffs expires on Friday....
'Pro-taxpayer' law requires operators to clean up abandoned Illinois oil wells

‘Pro-taxpayer’ law requires operators to clean up abandoned Illinois oil wells

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A state lawmaker says recently-signed legislation will ensure that Illinois taxpayers don’t foot the bill for cleaning...
Black-only medical directory must open to all races after lawsuit

Black-only medical directory must open to all races after lawsuit

By Tate MillerThe Center Square After a lawsuit from medical group Do No Harm, a Philadelphia-based directory of Black physicians is now open to all races. The directory entitled “Black...
Embattled Fed governor sues Trump over 'illegal' firing

Embattled Fed governor sues Trump over ‘illegal’ firing

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square A Federal Reserve governor accused of mortgage fraud filed a lawsuit Thursday alleging her firing was "unprecedented and illegal." Trump fired Federal Reserve Governor Lisa...
Watch: Cook County gun ban plaintiffs petition SCOTUS; Pritzker hasn’t heard from White House

Watch: Cook County gun ban plaintiffs petition SCOTUS; Pritzker hasn’t heard from White House

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop gets to the...
Illinois quick hits: Man on pretrial release accused of murder; holiday weekend impaired driving patrols

Illinois quick hits: Man on pretrial release accused of murder; holiday weekend impaired driving patrols

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Man on pretrial release accused of murder After reportedly violating curfew dozens of times while wearing an ankle monitor, a man...
GOP legislators propose creating new state from CA counties

GOP legislators propose creating new state from CA counties

By Dave MasonThe Center Square Republicans are calling for 35 inland counties to secede from California and create a new state. The GOP announced the plan Wednesday as their response...
WATCH: Pro-life groups step up to meet growing demand in post-Dobbs America

WATCH: Pro-life groups step up to meet growing demand in post-Dobbs America

By Carleen JohnsonThe Center Square It’s been more than three years since the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that reversed Roe v. Wade,...