Minnesota lawmakers hear EMS task force findings, pilot program readied after $24M aid and grants

The Minnesota Senate Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee heard updates Thursday on a statewide effort to stabilize emergency medical services, including the new state Office of Emergency Medical Services, the distribution of a $24 million emergency ambulance aid appropriation and a locally led “sprint paramedic” pilot set to begin operations in late winter.

Senator Seaburger, co-chair of the legislative EMS task force and a firefighter-paramedic, told the panel the task force found consistent problems across the state: staffing shortages, inadequate compensation for non-transport calls and difficulty retaining personnel. "It all boils down to the same problems that we're seeing," Seaburger said.

The task force convened across Minnesota to gather input from providers; members and providers told the committee they were relieved to be heard and urged continued oversight. The new Office of Emergency Medical Services, created by legislation (House File 4738 and the EMS omnibus bill from the previous session), replaced the prior Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board and reorganized regulatory duties under a single director and three deputy-led divisions for physicians, organizations and workforce.

Dylan Ferguson, director of the newly formed Minnesota Office of Emergency Medical…