Council introduces bill to let EMS request insurance information for treatment‑in‑place and alternative transport

The Montgomery County Council on Jan. 21 introduced Bill 1‑25, a public‑safety measure to amend the Emergency Medical Services Insurance Reimbursement Program and permit fire and rescue personnel to request limited insurance information when providing treatment‑in‑place or transporting patients to an alternative destination such as urgent care.

Jim Ogorzilak (speaker 17), the council’s new legislative attorney, explained that current county code does not permit emergency responders to request insurance information in those circumstances; the change would broaden reimbursement eligibility and allow alternatives to hospital transport where clinically appropriate. Ogorzilak said the amendment would help extend an existing arrangement with Holy Cross Express Care to other providers and HMOs, including Kaiser Permanente, by clarifying the county code language.

Councilmember Lukey (speaker 14) asked to be added as a cosponsor during the introduction; the council set a public hearing on the bill for Feb. 11 at 1:30 p.m. and directed that interested members of the public submit testimony in advance according to the council’s hearing procedures.

Supporters at committee review told the council the measure aligns with recommendations from the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems; council members said they plan additional committee review before final action.

No vote on final adoption occurred on Jan. 21; the bill will proceed through the scheduled public‑hearing and committee process.