Miller: Senate passes EMS aid package with unanimous support

In the final days of the 2024 legislative session, the Minnesota Senate passed a $30 million aid package for rural emergency medical services (EMS) with unanimous support. The bill provides $24 million in emergency aid for EMS providers who are focused on services in Greater Minnesota. Another $6 million is dedicated to an innovative sprint medic pilot program.   

Throughout the interim, a bipartisan EMS Task Force investigated how the state can improve the life-saving services provided by EMS personnel. The Task Force was created following a 2022 report from the Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA). Field hearings were held throughout the state, and the task force made key recommendations, many of which are reflected in the Senate’s EMS aid package. 

The OLA report found the EMS Regulatory Board (EMSRB) was ineffective in its regulatory role. The bill starts to address these issues with a restructuring of the EMSRB. The powers and duties of the EMSRB are moved to a newly established Office of Emergency Medical Services. 

“I have been hearing about the EMS crisis from providers in our area for the last few years,” Senator Jeremy Miller (R-Winona) said. “The challenges they are facing – especially in southeastern Minnesota – like outdated equipment and staff shortages, have been neglected for too long. This bipartisan emergency aid will ensure that when Minnesotans call for an ambulance, they get the urgent care they need, regardless of their location. There is still more work we need to do, but this is a great bipartisan bill that demonstrates what we can achieve when we work together.”  

The aid package includes significant funding for EMS providers in Senate District 26, including 

  • Altura ($49,979)  
  • Caledonia ($98,385) 
  • Chatfield ($91,479) 
  • Harmony ($70,929) 
  • Lewiston ($138,500) 
  • Preston ($96,088) 
  • Rushford ($88,550) 
  • Spring Valley ($106,073) 
  • Gunderson Lutheran Health System/Emplify Health ($113,227) 
  • Houston Community Ambulance ($64,917) 
  • Le Roy Area Ambulance Council ($60,760) 
  • Spring Grove Ambulance ($51,252) 
  • Winona Health ($131,990)   

While the aid package will help, the state can only supplement funds for rural EMS. Overall, the funding remains a federal issue with government reimbursement rates failing to cover the total cost of care. 

The EMS aid package also includes a sprint medic pilot program, authorizing trained medical staff to be the first response and determining if an ambulance is necessary. This approach is more mobile, flexible, and can prevent unnecessary ambulance calls that ultimately may not be reimbursed. The program will help connect Minnesotans to care more quickly and ensure the correct level of care is provided. 

Additional reforms in the bill help address EMS staffing concerns in rural areas. The changes make it easier to be qualified or certified as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Emergency Medical Responder, or Ambulatory EMT.