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

Bill filed to create Illinois Epstein Files Investigation Commission

Bill filed to create Illinois Epstein Files Investigation Commission

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A state lawmaker is proposing a commission to investigate the ties that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s...
Lawmakers request DOJ probe into whether Somali fraud and ICE protests are linked

Lawmakers request DOJ probe into whether Somali fraud and ICE protests are linked

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The U.S. House Oversight Committee is requesting that the Department of Justice investigate whether the Somali welfare fraud and anti-immigration enforcement protests in Minnesota are...
Questions remain on Trump's plans for $2,000 tariff rebate checks

Questions remain on Trump’s plans for $2,000 tariff rebate checks

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square American consumers hoping for tariff refunds could be disappointed. The U.S. Supreme Court invalidated President Donald Trump's tariffs under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers...
Illinois Quick Hits: EPA offers grants to public water facilities

Illinois Quick Hits: EPA offers grants to public water facilities

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Energy is offering up to $1.5 million in grant funding...
Victims, families support bill protecting victims of sexual assault in schools

Victims, families support bill protecting victims of sexual assault in schools

By Sean Reed | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – State lawmakers gathered with victims, parents and advocates in support of a bill requiring Illinois schools...
Retired military officials warn CMS bidding expansion poses national security risks

Retired military officials warn CMS bidding expansion poses national security risks

By Tom JoyceThe Center Square A coalition of retired military officers and former national security officials is urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to halt an expansion of...
Lobbyist: Passenger rail planning bill has no fiscal impact this year

Lobbyist: Passenger rail planning bill has no fiscal impact this year

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Rail planning advocates say there would be no immediate fiscal impact if lawmakers pass legislation laying the...
U.S. Supreme Court appears skeptical of drug user gun ban

U.S. Supreme Court appears skeptical of drug user gun ban

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square U.S. Supreme Court justices appeared skeptical during arguments on Monday over a law that disarms habitual drug users. The case, U.S. v. Hemani, challenged a...
Illinois job market stalls, more than 300,00 left looking for work

Illinois job market stalls, more than 300,00 left looking for work

By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Policy Institute’s Josh Bandoch points to Springfield when it comes to the state’s outlier status...
Poll: 47% of U.S. voters oppose bombing Iran

Poll: 47% of U.S. voters oppose bombing Iran

By Emily RodriguezThe Center Square A new survey found that a plurality of United States voters oppose the bombing of Iran. With Operation Epic Fury underway, Napolitan News Service conducted...
WATCH/EXCLUSIVE: Title IX debate continues with Supreme Court decision pending

WATCH/EXCLUSIVE: Title IX debate continues with Supreme Court decision pending

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square A national debate over Title IX enforcement continues as the Trump administration investigates schools and universities that allow transgender students to compete in women's sports....
Illinois diversity commissioner did not properly disclose $23K side job

Illinois diversity commissioner did not properly disclose $23K side job

By Jared Strong | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A member of Illinois' highly-paid diversity commission disclosed a side job to state officials in a manner...
DOJ indicts 30 more in St. Paul church protest case

DOJ indicts 30 more in St. Paul church protest case

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Dozens have now been indicted on federal charges related to a protest that disrupted a Jan. 18 church service in St. Paul. U.S. Attorney General...
Hegseth: Operation Epic Fury 'just the beginning' of U.S. action in Iran

Hegseth: Operation Epic Fury ‘just the beginning’ of U.S. action in Iran

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Operation Epic Fury is “just the beginning” of American combat operations in Iran, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and General Dan Caine told reporters Monday....
Trump administration tells court tariff refunds 'will take time'

Trump administration tells court tariff refunds ‘will take time’

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Attorneys for the federal government said refunding tariffs to the U.S. businesses that paid them could take time and urged a court not to rush,...