By Ruth Brown, Idaho Reports
The Senate Health and Welfare Committee moved forward a bill that could drastically shift the way emergency medical services in Idaho are funded in future years.
Currently, the state of Idaho does not deem EMS an essential service, meaning the state is not required to fund it. This leaves EMS agencies with a variety of funding sources. Some are volunteer agencies, some are part of a fire department, and some are private organizations. While some agencies receive grants, none of the EMS providers receive ongoing appropriations from the state.
Sponsored by Sen. Mark Harris, R-Soda Springs, S 1416 would move the EMS Bureau out of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and relocate it under the Office of Emergency Management. The Office of Emergency Management would be responsible for preparing a budget request for EMS function for fiscal year 2026.
There would not be a shift in funding in fiscal year 2025, the year for which legislators are currently budgeting. For FY 2026, the bill’s fiscal note projects cost share estimates at $2.2 million for the first year, and says local input would determine further costs. “There could be a federal cost-share for these services,” the note says.
The Office of Emergency Management would also be responsible for the rulemaking powers regarding EMS. The counties would coordinate with the EMS Bureau to ensure there’s adequate EMS coverage.
The bill comes after ongoing work from the Idaho EMS Sustainability Task Force began working with stakeholders in 2022.
Sara Westbrook of the Idaho Association of Counties spoke in support of the bill, telling the committee that Idaho’s 44 counties all have very different needs.
Chris Shandera, of Magic Valley Paramedics, told the committee that 10 to 15 times a month his agency receives calls when an ambulance is unavailable. He urged legislators to support the bill, saying they could not continue without proper support.
Rick Funk, EMS Chief for Payette County Paramedics, also spoke in support of the bill.
“With the current model for EMS in Idaho, it’s not sustainable,” Funk said. “If we do not do something to the fix the system soon, it’s going to completely fail in the next 5, and at most 10 years. What I mean by that is you’re going to call 911 for yourself or your loved one and you’re not going to get a response. Or you’re going to get a very delayed response and it’s a response from someone who is not medically trained.”
The bill now heads to the full Senate.