EMSAC ADVOCACY

The federal EMS on the Hill Day is approaching and there is a major shift in all things government that influence EMS, from billing to grant funding and, possibly, regulatory oversight.

Starting first with the Medicare extenders.  For those not familiar with it, EMS providers have been paid a Medicare extender bonus.  House Bill 10545 passed by the US Senate and the House of Representatives extended the temporary Medicare ambulance add-on payments of 2% urban, 3% rural and 22.6% super rural through March 31, 2025.  Most ambulance operations have a payer mix of at least one-fourth or more that are Medicare patients.  Colorado’s rural ambulance services stand to lose 22% of their reimbursement.

High school EMT student/leadership intern attends EMSAC conference

By Kaylee Gardner
Middle Park High School EMT Student/GCEMS Clinical Leadership Intern. 

Q&A with Donnie Woodyard, Jr., Executive Director of the U.S. EMS Compact

Q: What is the United States EMS Compact, and why is it important?
A: The United States EMS Compact is an agreement between states that allows licensed EMS clinicians to practice in any of the 24 Compact Member states without requiring additional licenses. It provides a "Privilege to Practice," enabling clinicians to work in multiple states while maintaining public safety and professional accountability.

The best EMS system in the country: new EMSAC President Tom Anderson

2024 Colorado State EMS Awards presented at Keystone

American College of Paramedics to be created

By Nick Nudell, EMSAC Region 1 Representative

Clinical Practice - new!

Bonnie Culpepper Memorial Scholarship

2024 Legislative Session Summary

March 2024 Advocacy Update

Meet EMSAC's Leadership

March 2024

2024 EMS Day at the Capitol

(DENVER, Colo.) February 20
By Howard M. Paul, Communications Director

Reflections on our noble profession
By Scott Sholes, President

Advocating Emergency Medical Services

EMSAC secretary

David Patterson is EMSAC's elected Secretary.“David began his EMS career as a volunteer and paid Firefighter, EMT, and Paramedic in Texas beginning in 1989, serving with the Clear Lake City Fire Department and the Clear Lake Emergency Medical Corps. He also has worked as a paramedic, supervisor, and manager with Rural/Metro in Waco and MedStar in Fort Worth. He relocated to Colorado in 2000, serving as the Division General Manager for Rural/Metro’s Colorado operation for 13 years – moving to Falck in 2013, leading their Rocky Mountain, Oregon, and Washington divisions. In the course of these two professional roles over the past 23 years, he has had the privilege of leading emergency ambulance response systems in Colorado for Aurora, Boulder, Wheat Ridge, Arvada, Littleton, Lakeside, and Sheridan.