Survey Finds North Dakota Ambulance Providers Losing Money on Every Run

(Photo by Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor)

(North Dakota Monitor) – North Dakota ambulance service providers lost nearly $500 on average for every patient transported to a medical facility last year, according to a survey.

The recent survey of three dozen providers in the state, conducted by PWW Advisory Group, was the result of a study created by House Bill 1322 passed during the 2025 legislative session.  The group presented the results to the Legislature’s interim Emergency Response Services Committee on Wednesday.

The average revenue generated from an ambulance transport was about $1,100 during 2025, but the expenses were nearly $1,600, said Matt Zavadsky, an EMS and mobile health care consultant with PWW, based in Pennsylvania.

“They are losing money every time they respond to a call,” Zavadsky said during the meeting. “That financial loss has to be made up, typically, by local tax subsidies, fundraisers, bake sales, or all too often, service reductions to try and match expenses with the revenue they can generate.”