The Minnesota Senate today 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.
“The crisis that rural EMS providers are dealing with has been getting worse for a number of years,” Senator Bill Lieske (R-Lonsdale) said. “I have heard from several providers, and they tell me the same thing: the staff shortages and the outdated equipment are making it almost impossible to operate. They need more, but the $30 million bipartisan aid package is a big first step to make sure Minnesotans in Greater Minnesota have access to fast emergency care.”
The aid package includes significant funding for two EMS providers in Senate District 58:
- New Prague ($153,777)
- Northfield Hospital and Clinics ($146,733)
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.