2010 Emergency Medical Services Levy Financial & Compliance Audit

September 7, 2011

King County’s Medic One/Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system provides internationally recognized out-of-hospital patient care, including life-saving medical assistance, to the 1.9 million residents throughout the county. The EMS system is funded principally by a voter-approved, six-year EMS Levy. The 2008 to 2013 EMS Levy provides an average of approximately $63 million annually for advanced life support (ALS), basic life support (BLS), regional services, and strategic initiatives.

This 2010 Emergency Medical Services Financial and Compliance Audit focuses on the third year of the EMS Division’s implementation of the 2008 to 2013 EMS Levy. The primary purpose of the audit is to assess the EMS Division’s financial practices and compliance with the Council-adopted 2010 EMS Levy policies and financial plan; review the costs of EMS dispatch services provided primarily by two independently operated dispatch agencies, and determine whether the increased dispatch costs can be funded by the EMS Levy for the duration of the six-year levy cycle. In addition, the audit includes a peer survey comparing the costs of dispatch services with King County EMS dispatch providers.