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Committee hears testimony on EMS reimbursement bill after emotional rural accounts
Summary
Lawmakers in committee heard hours of public comment on HB400, a bill to expand reimbursement for emergency medical services and allow treatment-in-place, with supporters citing rural ambulance shortages and opponents warning that mandates could raise insurance costs. The bill was carried over for a vote next week.
A legislative committee heard hours of testimony on HB400, a bill that would change how ambulance services are reimbursed and permit payment for care provided without transport, with proponents saying the measure would shore up rural emergency services and opponents warning it could raise insurance costs for consumers.
The bill’s sponsor described a substitute and amendments that add a university-contracted study and a sunset provision to allow evaluation. Steven Wilson, a paramedic and director of operations for a Montgomery-based EMS service, told the committee, “This bill will help with our rural healthcare crisis,” describing multiple counties that lack hospitals and occasions when no crew was available. Vicki…
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