ST. PAUL, Minn. — Last week, Minnesota legislators serving on the state’s Emergency Medical Services Task Force returned from their advocacy trip to Washington D.C. During their visit, …
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ST. PAUL, Minn. — Last week, Minnesota legislators serving on the state’s Emergency Medical Services Task Force returned from their advocacy trip to Washington D.C. During their visit, co-chair of the task force Senator Judy Seeberger (DFL-Afton) and the other members met with White House officials, agency staff and several members of the Minnesota congressional delegation to bring awareness to the issues facing rural EMS providers.
In May, the DFL-led Legislature passed House File 4738 - a bipartisan effort to support struggling EMS providers, particularly in rural Minnesota. Reforms contained in the bill included the creation of Minnesota’s new state Office of EMS, funding for innovative Sprint Medic Pilot Programs in Otter Tail County and Saint Louis County, and $24 million in aid to struggling EMS providers in the state.
Upon return from the group’s visit to Washington D.C., Senator Seeberger released the following statement:
“As a paramedic, legislation regarding emergency medical services has been a top priority of mine. I am incredibly thankful for my fellow members of the EMS Task Force and their shared commitment to ensuring quality and timely prehospital care for all Minnesotans, regardless of ZIP code.”
“Minnesota will be in a better place thanks to the state-level reforms we were able to pass. Our new state Office of EMS will help streamline problem-solving efforts, strengthen public accountability when it comes to EMS, and uplift the voices of Minnesota’s hardworking first responders. Our new Sprint Medic pilot programs will help innovatively decrease EMS wait times in rural areas. However, federal action will be essential to combatting the financial struggles that so many rural providers are experiencing across the nation. Several proposals to help Medicare more adequately compensate EMS providers - so that they no longer have to operate in a deficit - have been proposed by federal lawmakers. I strongly urge members of the Minnesota congressional delegation to continue to push for these reforms for the sake of rural EMS across the country.”
