EMSAC Advocates for Critical EMS Support at Colorado State Capitol
By Howard Paul, Communications Director
DENVER, CO — Tuesday, February 10, EMSAC representatives and emergency medical professionals from across the state gathered for the annual EMS Day at the Capitol. The event, organized by the EMS Chiefs, Managers and Directors Section, gave everyone a real opportunity to meet with members of the Colorado Senate and House of Representatives to discuss the increasing challenges of emergency healthcare and the legislative support needed to sustain life-saving services.
The day was highlighted by a formal invitation into the House and Senate chambers. Sen. Dylan Roberts and Rep. Katie Stewart, sponsored a joint legislative tribute to EMS providers across the state, recognizing "selfless service, extraordinary expertise, and unwavering commitment to protecting the lives of millions," which was read aloud while members were on the floor.
Financial stability of EMS Agencies
That afternoon EMSAC focused on the economic and operational future of Colorado EMS. Attendees participated in an afternoon workshop concentrating on how modern ambulance services can bolster financial stability. The key topics discussed were:
- Treatment-In-Place (TIP): Allowing paramedics and EMTs to treat patients on-site when appropriate, rather than transporting to an ER.
- The Rural Health Transformation Grant: A federal program critical to ensuring residents and travelers in Colorado’s frontier areas have access to care during unexpected emergencies.
- The “Availability of Emergency Medical Services Act”: Advocacy for this bill highlights the potential to save between $1.2 and $1.5 billion in estimated annual Medicare costs through TIP and Mobile Integrated Health Care (community paramedics).
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The workshop was generously hosted by the Colorado Department Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) in its offices two blocks from the Capitol.
One-on-One Discussions
In a casual evening at the University Club of Denver, 33 members and EMS agency leaders spoke directly with 21 senators and representatives about the growing gap between EMS funding and rising operational costs. The message was that without legislative intervention, financial instability continues to put emergency response at risk.
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EMS Day At the Capitol Briefing Book
EMSAC published a sixteen-page briefing book to educate legislators about 2026's EMS issues, bills and topics of interest, both short- and long-term. You can download your own PDF copy of the book here.
Testimony at Committees
Following EMS Day at the Capitol, EMSAC engaged again at the Capitol on bills affecting EMS. On February 23, Reuben Farnsworth, deputy chief of Delta County Ambulance Service, testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in opposition to SB26-070, which would ban government access to historical location information databases. EMSAC's concern is the bill will limit the ability to see call history at addresses in dispatch systems and provide necessary audit and quality assurance functions to improve services. The bill was amended and that portion was resolved.
Treatment in Place and Financial Sustainability
On February 24, 2026, an EMSAC team including EMSAC Past President Scott Scholes, Durango F.P.D. EMS chief; Tina Wells, director of policy and government relations for GMR; Farnsworth and Dr. Eric Hill, medical director at Aurora Fire Rescue and Falck Rocky Mountain, testified before the House Health and Human Services Committee in support of HB26-1069. Through the hard work of the sponsors and EMSAC advocates, the bill passed unanimously, with many members of the committee expressing very enthusiastic support.
HB26-1069 is the culmination of years, decades even, of work by EMSAC to require health insurance reimbursement for treatment in place. The bill sponsored by Reps. Lisa Feret and Katie Stewart mandates insurance coverage by both Medicaid and private state regulated health insurance plans for treatment in place by Colorado EMS agencies.
For too long, the only option for payment for EMS services was to transport patients by the most expensive means (an ambulance) to the most expensive destination (an emergency department). When the science is clear, people with many medical problems heal faster and better at home. This policy will also result in millions of dollars in annual savings to patients and the state government.
“EMS shows up to every call they receive but only get reimbursed when they transport patients to the emergency room,” said Rep. Feret. “By allowing treatment in place and transport to a more appropriate setting, we save patients time and Colorado taxpayers money. This bill will provide additional resources to emergency response providers while saving both hospitals, health plans, and consumers money and freeing up emergency room beds for those who truly need it."
“Without proper reimbursement from health insurance companies, EMS in rural communities like mine are headed for financial collapse,” said Rep. Stewart, “When I worked as an EMT in Southwest Colorado, we provided on-site care to many patients, but EMS was not reimbursed for those calls because we did not transport the patient to the emergency room. This bill saves patients money by eliminating the need to flood the emergency room with non-emergent cases, freeing up EMS so they can continue to provide essential care to our communities.”
(L-R) In the Capitol's basement cafeteria, Advocacy Committee Chair Tim Dienst, GMR Director of Policy Tina Wells, Delta County Ambulance District MIH Director Reuben Farnsworth and Ute Pass Regional Health Services District MIH Director James McLaughlin review bill language and plan their testimony to support HB26-1069.
Other EMS-related Bills This Year
Unlike law enforcement and fire protection, EMS is not an “essential service” in Colorado. HB26-1238 fixes this. EMSAC is working closely with Rep. Dusty Johnson, an EMT herself, on this long-needed designation that will enable EMS to thrive across the state. The bill is co-prime sponsored by Rep. Meghan Lukens, the chair of the EMS System Sustainability Task Force and Sens. Mark Baisley and William Lindstedt.
1238 designates EMS as an essential service in Colorado by authorizing public and private ambulance services in the state to receive reimbursement for services by the Colorado Department of Public Safety.
It authorizes the disbursement of money from the state EMS fund to counties for the ambulance regulatory obligations and directs the governor to transfer money from the state disaster emergency fund to the state EMS fund to finance EMS needed in response to a declared disaster emergency. The bill clarifies that an off-duty EMS provider is not obligated to respond to the scene of a medical emergency.
The bill is scheduled before the House Health and Human Services Committee on March 3, 2026.
Medical Debt
EMSAC also opposes HB26-1267, which effectively bans the collection of past-due medical debt. EMS relies on the payment of ambulance bills to keep the lights, the doors open and the wheels turning. The bill would be devastating and would lead to the failure of agencies across the state.
Stay up to date with EMSAC’s legislative priorities by following the EMSAC bill tracker.