Minneslate Logo

SF3510 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Rural EMS uncompensated care pool payment program establishment and appropriation

Related bill: HF696

AI Generated Summary

Purpose

The bill aims to establish a payment program to support rural Emergency Medical Services (EMS) that incur costs for uncompensated care. The program seeks to reimburse eligible rural EMS providers for services that they were unable to collect payments for, promoting the financial sustainability of these critical emergency services.

Main Provisions

  • Program Establishment: A rural EMS uncompensated care pool payment program will be established and administered by the director defined in existing Minnesota statutes.
  • Eligibility: The program is designed for ambulance service providers that operate primarily outside metropolitan counties in Minnesota.
  • Application Process: Eligible EMS providers must apply for the program by March 31, 2026. The application should detail the number of uncompensated EMS responses that qualify under the program's criteria.
  • Criteria for Eligible EMS Responses: To qualify, an EMS response must be:
    1. Initiated by a call to a public safety answering point.
    2. Result in an ambulance dispatched to the scene.
    3. Not involve cancellation of the ambulance en route.
    4. Not involve transporting anyone to a hospital emergency department.
    5. Unpaid by any source.
    6. Occurring between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025.

Significant Changes

  • Payment Calculations: Points will be awarded based on the number of qualifying responses. More points are given for initial responses, and fewer points as the number of responses increases, with responses exceeding 200 awarded no points.
  • Funding Allocation: The total points are translated into payments, with the total funding divided by the number of points to determine the per-point payment amount. Payments must be certified and distributed by May 30, 2026.
  • Funding: A one-time allocation of $3,000,000 from the general fund is provided for fiscal year 2026 to support the program.

Relevant Terms

rural EMS, uncompensated care, ambulance services, public safety answering point, metropolitan counties, emergency medical services, appropriation, payment program.

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
May 12, 2025SenateFloorActionIntroduction and first reading
May 12, 2025SenateFloorActionReferred toHealth and Human Services
SenateNoteActionSee

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Defines the term 'Director' as it applies to emergency medical services.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "144E.001",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Lists metropolitan counties for purposes of regulating ambulance services.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "473.121",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 4"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Defines the term 'Licensee' for regulating EMS activities.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "144E.001",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 8"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Explains what constitutes a 'Public safety answering point'.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "403.02",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 19"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Describes components for specialized life support in EMS responses.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "144E.101",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 9"
  }
]

Progress through the legislative process

17%
In Committee

Sponsors