St. Paul, Minn.— Today the Minnesota House of Representatives passed the conference committee report on HF 4738 to create a new Office of Emergency Medical Services in Minnesota. The most significant change reflects the adoption of an investment of $30 million in emergency ambulance service aid. The measure passed on a vote of 119-11.
“Minnesotans deserve the peace of mind to know that when they call 911, a first responder will be able to act quickly,” said Rep. Huot. “Rural areas of the state are facing unacceptable wait times for an ambulance where response times can exceed an hour. Today we did good bipartisan work to create an Office of Emergency Medical Services and deliver emergency response funds to improve these services for Minnesotans.”
In 2022, the Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) released an evaluation report regarding emergency ambulance services showing insufficient oversight, outdated service areas, persistent sustainability challenges, and ineffective Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board (EMSRB) leadership. Under Huot’s bill, the Office of Emergency Medical Services will replace the EMSRB with a transition taking place Jan. 1, 2025.
The new office would be home to three divisions: the Medical Services Division, the Ambulance Services Division, and the Emergency Medical Service Providers Division. The legislation also creates an Alternative EMS Response Model Pilot Program. Under the pilot, primary ambulance providers in certain rural areas would be allowed to partner with supporting providers to provide expanded life support intercept capability.
The measure now goes to the governor for his signature.
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