Bill expands reimbursement for volunteer EMS training and adds EMR eligibility; committee advances bill as amended

Representative Backer presented House File 94 with an A1 amendment on Feb. 24. The author said the amendment changes the eligibility threshold from 5,000 runs per year to 4,000 runs per year to better target volunteer services. The bill would increase state funding that reimburses ambulance services for initial and continuing education and add emergency medical responder (EMR) training to eligible expenses.

Buck McAlpin of the Minnesota Ambulance Association testified in support and highlighted complementary programs, including a paramedic scholarship program administered through higher education that the legislature funded at about $5 million and which has already issued more than 300 scholarships, with over 100 new paramedics finishing the program this year. McAlpin and Representative Backer said the current $361,000 annual training pool historically covered EMTs but did not explicitly fund EMR training; this bill would provide additional dollars and policy language so funding could be used for responders who serve as first-response drivers and volunteer crews.

Representative Purcell asked whether the 4,000-run threshold excludes certain communities; Backer said the bill focuses on volunteer services and the lower threshold better targets smaller, low-volume services. Backer said Director Ferguson can provide data to members on PSAs and run counts. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill.