Children, Families, Health, and Human Services Interim Committee

SJR 5: Emergency Medical Services

The 2007 Legislature approved Senate Joint Resolution 5, for a study of emergency medical services in Montana to determine the issues that communities face and to identify strategies for ensuring that services remain in place throughout the state.

At its June 2008 meeting, the committee reviewed initial drafts of potential legislation designed to help with recruitment, retention, and cost issues for volunteer EMS providers. The bill drafts were based in large part on testimony provided in previous committee meetings by state and local officials, EMS providers, hospital representatives, and others.

The committee agreed to proceed with the six initial bills and will consider revised versions in August that take into account public comment made at the June meeting.

The committee also asked that potential legislation be developed based on recommendations contained in a performance audit of the state agencies overseeing EMS activities.

Study Plan

Staff Reports

EMS Performance Audit -- Full Audit -- Executive Summary: Legislative Audit Division, June 2008
EMS Performance Audit of the Department of Public Health and Human Services and the Board of Medical Examiners: PowerPoint presentation by Legislative Audit Division, June 11, 2008
Memo on EMS-Related Issues: Legislative Audit Division, June 3, 2008
Summary of Testimony: Sue O'Connell, March 7, 2008
EMS in Montana: PowerPoint Presentation by the Legislative Audit Division, Jan. 25, 2008
EMS by the Numbers: EMTs, Providers, Reimbursements, and Survey Responses: Sue O'Connell, November 2007
The Evolution of Montana's EMS Laws: Sue O'Connell, September 2007

Related Study Materials

The following materials have been presented by individuals invited to speak to the committee on EMS-related issues:

EMS Elsewhere: Ideas and Approaches: PowerPoint Presentation by Nels Sanddal, Critical Illness and Trauma Foundation, Jan. 25, 2008
Reimbursement Issues: PowerPoint Presentation by John Ungaretti, Healthcare Billings, Inc., Jan. 25, 2008
Education and Quality Issues in EMS: PowerPoint Presentation by John Bleicher, Trauma Coordinator, St. Patrick Hospital, Missoula, Nov. 16, 2007
Blackfeet Tribal EMS: PowerPoint Presentation by Joleen Weatherwax, Director, Blackfeet Tribal EMS, Nov. 16, 2007
Professional Licensing of Emergency Medical Technicians: Board of Medical Examiners PowerPoint Presentation, Sept. 24, 2007
Montana Emergency Medical Services: A Guide for Elected Officials: Presented by the EMS and Trauma Systems Section, Sept. 24, 2007

Draft Legislation

The following bill drafts were presented to the committee in June 2008. These bills will be revised based on public comment, and the revised versions will be discussed at the committee's August 21-22 meeting.

LCS5-1: EMS License Plates and Tax Credit -- Briefing Paper
LCS5-2: Staffing Levels for Certain Ambulance Transports -- Briefing Paper
LCS5-3: EMT Member on Board of Medical Examiners -- Briefing Paper
LCS5-4: EMS Tax Incentives -- Briefing Paper
LCS5-5: EMS Grant Program -- Briefing Paper
LCS5-6: Confidentiality for EMS Run Review -- Briefing Paper


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	Last Modified:6/17/2008 12:24:15 PM