Senate bill to create EMS delivery‑model study commission advances with addition of insurance‑industry seat

Senate Bill 130, reworked as a replace‑all amendment, would establish a commission to study delivery models for emergency medical services (EMS) in New Hampshire. The amendment calls for a broad stakeholder group — including municipal officials, fire chiefs, hospital association representatives and other affected parties — to examine how differing local service models affect access, financial sustainability and workforce capacity.

Sponsor Senator David Rosher (as introduced) told the committee that EMS systems in New Hampshire vary widely — career municipal fire-based EMS, volunteer squads, private non‑profit and for‑profit ambulances — and that a single statewide approach is unlikely to match every community’s needs. The commission, he said, will audit current delivery models and identify policy options.

Participants in the hearing included representatives of the New Hampshire Association of Fire Chiefs, county officials and the hospital association. Fire Chiefs’ testimony (Michael Sita and Ed Walker) urged solutions that avoid shifting excessive costs to taxpayers and stressed the need for fair reimbursement and a statutory rate framework to help negotiate with payers. Hospitals and counties supported the study as a necessary step toward systemic fixes.

Committee members approved the amendment and added a small committee amendment to include a representative of the insurance industry (AHIP or similar) on the study commission so payers would be part of the conversation. No vote on an operating or funding appropriation was taken; the commission is advisory and intended to report findings to the legislature.

Ending: The committee adopted the amendment to form the EMS study commission and added an insurance‑industry seat; the commission’s work plan and any funding requests will be shaped during the study period.