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Grand County approves letters urging senators to support rural ambulance Medicare extenders
Summary
Grand County commissioners approved two letters asking U.S. Senators to cosponsor Senate Bill 1673, a Medicare extenders measure that EMS staff said helps reimburse rural ambulance services at higher rates; EMS warned lack of extension could mean roughly $700,000 in lost revenue in part of the county.
Austin Wingate, representing Grand County EMS, asked the board to sign and send two letters seeking cosponsorship of Senate Bill 1673, the Medicare extenders bill that increases reimbursement rates for rural ambulance services. Wingate described the measure as an annual request that has passed repeatedly and said it is important to rural providers: he estimated that failure to secure the extension could create about $700,000 in lost revenue for the county’s ambulance service in the northern service area.
Commissioners discussed the bill's typical cycle and whether the legislation provided a multi‑year extension; staff and Wingate characterized the request as annual in practice though some proposals would extend rates for multiple years. The board voted to approve the two letters to Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper and authorized stamping signatures where needed.
