Committee OKs biennial EMS needs-based assessment bill to guide funding distribution

The Senate Health Committee adopted a committee substitute to Senate Bill 925 and reported the substitute to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass, with an original double committee reference directing the bill first to the Committee on Finance.

Counsel explained the bill would create the Emergency Medical Services Needs-Based Assessment Act, require the department to conduct a statewide EMS needs-based assessment every two years evaluating call volume, response time, ambulance availability, trained personnel and equipment or training deficiencies, and, based on findings, direct the department to establish a funding distribution formula that prioritizes agencies with greater need. Counsel said the bill provides that no EMS provider shall receive reduced funding unless justified by assessment findings and alternate funding availability; the joint committee on government and finance will review the assessment and recommend policy adjustments. Counsel said the Office of Emergency Medical Services, the Bureau for Public Health and the Department of Health would be affected and that the first assessment must be conducted within one year of passage; the substitute reorganized sections and included technical edits.

The senior senator from the sixth said the bill’s genesis was county EMS struggles and said the needs-based assessment would allow counties in distress to receive more funding. After no amendments, the committee adopted the substitute and voted to report the bill to the full Senate, with the chair recording the ayes have it.

Counsel stated a fiscal note was requested and the substitute has a second reference to Finance; the effective date was listed as upon passage.