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  "description": "An ambulance desert is places and people that are more than 25 minutes from an ambulance service.",
  "path": "/fact-brief-does-sd-ambulance-deserts/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-05T11:05:35.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.sdnewswatch.org",
  "tags": [
    "_this one_",
    "_South Dakota Senate advances EMS funding study bill_",
    "_Ambulance Deserts study (2023)_",
    "_South Dakota News Watch_",
    "_Gigafact_",
    "_Read previous fact briefs_",
    "_best practices policies_",
    "_South Dakota News Watch Tipline_",
    "Share your thoughts on this story",
    "__sdnewswatch.org__",
    "__sign up for an email__"
  ],
  "textContent": "## Yes.\n\nSouth Dakota is fourth in the nation with the percent of people who live in an ambulance desert, according to a 2023 study.\n\nThe state has 15.2% of its county populations in areas underserved by ambulances – behind Montana (27.8%), New Mexico (19.6%) and Utah (19.1%).\n\nThe study, completed in May 2023 by the Maine Rural Health Research Center and the Rural Health Research and Policy Centers, defines an ambulance desert as places and people that are more than 25 minutes from an ambulance service.\n\nSouth Dakota is among eight states that have fewer than three ambulances per 1,000 square miles. While the state is toward the top with ambulance stations per 100,000 people, its geographic size and small population puts it toward the top for rural areas facing a lack of services.\n\nThe state Legislature is considering a bill that would create a task force to study classifying emergency medical services as \"essential.” As it stands the state is not required to provide or fund EMS.\n\n _This fact brief responds to conversations such as_ _this one_ _._\n\n### **Source**\n\nKELO-TV, _South Dakota Senate advances EMS funding study bill_\n\nMaine Rural Health Research Center and Rural Health Research and Policy Centers, _Ambulance Deserts study (2023)_\n\n* * *\n\n_South Dakota News Watch_ partners with _Gigafact_ to publish fact briefs that refute or confirm a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context.\n\n  * _Read previous fact briefs_.\n  * Read our verification standards and other _best practices policies_.\n  * Submit a question for us to answer on the _South Dakota News Watch Tipline_.\n  * Send questions or feedback to _factbrief@sdnewswatch.org_.\n\n\n\nShare your thoughts on this story\n\n _This story was produced by**South Dakota News Watch** , an independent, nonprofit organization. Read more stories and donate at ___sdnewswatch.org__ _and_ __sign up for an email__ _to get stories when they're published.**Contact Michael Klinski** at michael.klinski@sdnewswatch.org._",
  "title": "Fact brief: Does SD have some of the most ‘ambulance deserts?’",
  "updatedAt": "2026-02-05T11:05:35.000Z"
}