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SAVVIK - EMSAC's Buying Co-op

SAVVIK EMS Co-op — for both agencies and individuals

SAVVIK is our buying co-op for everything EMS, from 5.11 pants and nitrile gloves to ambulances and monitor/defibrillators. Membership is available to public safety agencies and independent memberships for active first responders. Savvik’s goal is simple: provide the equipment and supplies agencies need at the best possible pricing. Through national cooperative purchasing, Savvik delivers cost savings to organizations serving public safety.

In addition to those savings, Savvik returns one-third of all purchases to its association partners. That means every purchase made through Savvik directly supports the Emergency Medical Services Association of Colorado.

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Ambulance Security: Preventing Vehicle Theft and Understanding the Consequences

Webinar Ambulance Security: Preventing Vehicle Theft and Understanding the Consequences

APRIL 28, 2026 10:00 AM MDT

REGISTER HERE.

Ambulance theft is no longer a rare or isolated event—it is a predictable and growing operational risk.  Industry data suggests that an ambulance is stolen approximately every two weeks in the United States, most often from hospital ambulance bays, but increasingly from active scenes. What was once considered an anomaly is now presenting serious and escalating consequences—including police pursuits, spike strip deployments, vehicle crashes, and situations where patients and crews are placed in harm’s way.

The uncomfortable truth is this: many of these incidents are preventable.  This timely and practical webinar brings together operational leadership, regulatory insight, and legal expertise to examine ambulance security from every angle—what’s happening, why it matters, and what you can do about it now.  The Academy of International Mobile Healthcare Integration (AIMHI), Pro EMS and Page Wolfberg & Wirth Advisory Group (PWWAG) are teaming up to help you address this issue. 



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EMS Chiefs, Managers, and Directors (CMD) News

EMS Leadership Charts New Course: Focus on Financial Sustainability, Workforce Resilience and Advocacy

The EMS Chiefs, Managers, and Directors (CMD) met in Colorado Springs on September 24, 2025, for a crucial brainstorming and prioritization session, aimed at defining future educational topics and initiatives for EMS leaders. The discussions were detailed, honest and invigorating.

The day-long retreat was sponsored by Jon Cloutier, CEO and founder of LifeMed SAFETY. A paramedic himself, Jon has been active in EMS for decades and we extend our gratitude for his support of the EMS Chiefs, Managers, and Directors section of EMSAC. LifeMed Safety is a full-service EMS equipment partner — offering new and re-certified equipment sales, certified maintenance, preventive service programs, and rapid repairs.

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Understanding the EMS Agency Affiliation Requirement Under the United States EMS Compact

Understanding the EMS Agency Affiliation Requirement Under the United States EMS Compact

By Donnie Woodyard Jr., MAML, NRP 
Executive Director, United States EMS Compact

When the United States EMS Compact was first enacted, it represented one of the most significant advancements in the history of our profession: a way to legally extend an EMS clinician’s ability to practice across state lines. Yet, even as the Compact continues to expand—Colorado was the first state to join the EMS Compact, and today there are twenty-five member states—one question remains among the most frequently asked by clinicians, administrators, and regulators alike: What does “EMS Agency Affiliation” really mean?

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Colorado Legislation Designed to Protect Ambulance Patients and Financial Stability of EMS

EMSAC ADVOCACY

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What does 2025 portend for EMS nationally?

By Bruce Evans, MPA, CFO, NRP
Chief, Upper Pine River Fire Protection District
Past President, National Association of EMTs (NAEMT)
 

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.

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Advocacy March 2024

March 2024 Advocacy Update

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What do your salary, safe ambo tires, staffing and paid continuing professional education have in common?

What do your salary, safe ambo tires, staffing and paid continuing professional education have in common?

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American EMS—the national view

American EMS—the national view

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Special session includes EMS

General Assembly Special Session deals with 2023 property tax consequences
By Chris Howes, Howes - Wolf
We are happy to report some good news for EMS from the Colorado State Capitol. 
As you have no doubt heard in the media, a special session was called by the governor to address skyrocketing property taxes. 
The signature bill of the special session was Senate Bill 23B-001 by Senate President Fenberg (D) of Boulder & Senator Hansen (D) of Denver concerning a reduction in 2023 residential property taxes. After amending the bill to require a backfill for Colorado Fire Districts, the Senate Finance Committee passed 001 onto the floor. Our team felt that the bill sponsors should have included Ambulance Districts and Health Service Districts as well, so EMSAC lobbyist Chris Howes testified before the committee that it was a grave mistake to leave out EMS. 
After much lobbying and little sleep, we teamed up with the Colorado Hospital Association to craft and ultimately pass Amendment L.031 to successfully include Ambulance Districts and Health Service Districts, just like Fire Districts. Amendment L. 031 was moved by Senator Chris Hansen of Denver.  The amendment made it through to the final reading and is in the bill as signed by Governor Polis.

Colorado EMS Sustainability Task Force Update for EMSAC Members

Colorado EMS Sustainability Task Force Update for EMSAC Members

By Sean Caffrey, Crested Butte Fire Protection District
EMSAC delegate to the Colorado EMS Sustainability Task Force

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