WEMSA Applauds Governor Evers Signing Assembly Bill 874 into Law
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, April 8, 2022
Applauds Governor Evers Signing Assembly Bill 874 into Law
Approves Methodology to Increase Federal Medicaid EMS Reimbursement
Alan DeYoung, Executive Director | Mobile: (414) 209-4185 | Alan@WisconsinEMS.com
"On behalf of our 6,000 members and 360 EMS departments, we wish to thank Governor Tony Evers for signing Assembly Bill 874 into law (Wisconsin Act 228), stated Alan DeYoung, Executive Director of the Wisconsin EMS Association. “AB-874 would assist ambulance services with obtaining greater Medicaid reimbursement to close the gap on uncompensated costs.”
The legislative authors of Assembly Bill 874 and companion Senate Bill 826 are State Assembly Representative Amy Loudenbeck (R-Clinton) and State Senator Mary Felzkowski (R-Irma).
The greatest challenges facing local emergency medical services (EMS) today are staffing and financing. Wisconsin EMS is financed through local municipal budgets and service call charges that are paid for by the individual or reimbursement from private insurance, Medicare and Medicaid.
EMS services are predominantly, nearly 80 percent, provided or contracted for by municipal governments (towns, villages, cities and some counties). Oddly, only towns are required by state law to provide EMS services. EMS is not considered an “essential service” by state law as police and fire are. In addition, nearly 80% of EMS is volunteer based, meaning these services rely upon individuals to volunteer as EMS providers to staff an ambulance 24-hours \ 7-days a week.
When someone dials 911, there is an expectation that life-saving services will arrive. The ability for EMS to respond in many areas of the state has become a challenge – and, in some cases nonexistent. Various strategies are needed. These legislative proposals represent pieces toward that overall solution.
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The Wisconsin EMS Association is a nonprofit trade association that represents and supports the views and interests of its membership in Wisconsin communities by promoting education, sharing information, and facilitating legislative action.
For more information, go to: www.wisconsinems.com