Jan
30
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The History of EMSAC
Congressional District 4
Despite the 108° heat in Yuma, Friday was a good day for Colorado EMS
By Bruce Evans, MPA, CFO, NRPChief, Upper Pine River Fire Protection DistrictPast President, National Association of EMTs (NAEMT)
Jan
30
By Sean Caffrey, EMSAC representative to the Task Force
The Colorado EMS Sustainability Task Force created by Senate Bill 22-225 continues to work on their year 4 analysis and draft report. Year 4 is focused on financial sustainability. During the fall the TF received aggregated information from the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) on the Medicaid Ambulance Supplemental Payment Program on costs reported by governmental EMS services eligible for the program. A chart of those costs breakdowns by quartile is below.
The quartile groups are roughly:
- First Quartile - 25% - 127 calls/yr or less
- Second Quartile - 50% - 128 - 612 calls/yr
- Third Quartile - 75% - 613 - 2088 calls/yr
- Fourth Quartile - 2089+ Calls/yr
These numbers match pretty closely with financial modeling we did in 2023 to estimate EMS agency costs by size.
A draft report is being worked on in the background while the Task Force goes on to a limited meeting schedule during the legislative session. We expect behind the scenes work on drafting through April with finalization May - July once the regular meetings kick in monthly.
Jan
30
Looking Back at 2025 and Ahead to an Exciting 2026
By EMSAC President Tom Anderson, AMR Canon CityAs we close out the year, we hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanza and wish you a Happy New Year. The year ahead promises to be an exciting one for the emergency medical services system, and this is a great time to reflect on EMSAC’s accomplishments in 2025 while looking forward to what’s ahead in 2026.
Highlights from 2025
The past year brought many positive changes for EMSAC. One of the most visible updates was the complete revamp of our website, bringing it up to today’s standards and making it more user-friendly. Our bylaws were also updated, allowing the organization to operate more efficiently and effectively. Additionally, our membership data was refreshed, greatly improving our ability to communicate with members in a more organized and timely manner.
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Dec
23
Looking Ahead: 2026 Colorado Legislative Session
EMS is an Essential Service, Payment for Treatment in Place
EMSAC is hard at work preparing for the 2026 legislative session. Our ambitious legislative agenda includes finally declaring EMS as an essential service and creating funding mechanisms for treatment in place and transportation to alternative destinations.
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Nov
26
EMS Leadership Charts New Course: Focus on Financial Sustainability, Workforce Resilience and Advocacy
The EMS Chiefs, Managers, and Directors (CMD) met in Colorado Springs on September 24, 2025, for a crucial brainstorming and prioritization session, aimed at defining future educational topics and initiatives for EMS leaders. The discussions were detailed, honest and invigorating.
The day-long retreat was sponsored by Jon Cloutier, CEO and founder of LifeMed SAFETY. A paramedic himself, Jon has been active in EMS for decades and we extend our gratitude for his support of the EMS Chiefs, Managers, and Directors section of EMSAC. LifeMed Safety is a full-service EMS equipment partner — offering new and re-certified equipment sales, certified maintenance, preventive service programs, and rapid repairs.
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Oct
30
A Note from Tom Anderson, EMSAC President
I’m excited to share the latest updates from EMSAC!
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Oct
30
Advocacy
Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program
EMSAC and our allied state EMS organizations learned of the details of the new Rural Health Transformation (RHTP) Program recently passed by Congress as part of H.R1. just weeks ago. H.R. 1 Section 71401 of Public Law 119-21 “empowers states to strengthen rural communities across America by improving healthcare access, quality, and outcomes by transforming the healthcare delivery ecosystem.” It addresses several EMS-specific topics.
- Pre-Hospital and Acute Care Services: The statute identifies emergency care—including pre-hospital and acute inpatient services—as essential components of rural health system redesign.
- Alternative Site of Care Treatment: The law supports infrastructure that enables treatment “in place” during emergency calls, reducing the need for transport and improving response efficiency.
- Investments to Improve EMS Delivery: Funding may be used for projects that enhance the speed, access, and cost-effectiveness of emergency medical services in rural areas.
- Emergency Services Coordination: Rural facilities are encouraged to collaborate with regional systems to coordinate operations and emergency services, aiming to improve quality and sustainability.
We jumped into action and successfully advocated on the professions behalf, with letters to Governor Polis and the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF). As such EMSAC has a seat on the RHTP Application Core Working Group, along with:
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New funds for rural Colorado agencies, such as EMS, providing health or health-related services
Category: General Discussions
Sep
23
A new funding opportunity is available to support the information technology (IT) needs of rural organizations providing health services. The goals of this grant are to harmonize data-sharing capabilities, increase health information sharing, and advance health information exchange. Approved applications will expand HIE and EMR/EHR interoperability and connectivity, support data sharing, analytics, and IT infrastructure improvements, modernize IT systems and enable innovation in patient care amongst Public Health Agencies and EMS, and/or advance affordable care coordination and health outcomes.
Key Details:
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Aug
19
Conclusions of the State Interfacility Transport Task Force
By Scott Sholes
EMS Chief, Durango Fire-Rescue
According to a first-of-its-kind study of interfacility transport (IFT) in Colorado, EMS systems have experienced sharp increases in IFT demand in the past 5 years. Not only has the number of trips increased by 25% during that period, the time required to complete each trip now averages close to 2 hours. The study, a combination of data analysis by CDPHE and statewide research by Sarah Weatherred (CMRETAC) and Austin Wingate (Grand County EMS), revealed in addition to putting a significant strain on Colorado EMS systems, IFTs present significant safety concerns for patients and providers.
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EMSAC's history
Category: General Discussions
Jul
15
The Emergency Medical Services Association of Colorado was formed in Bailey in 1973, during the infancy of the revolution in emergency medical care in the United States, as the Emergency Medical Technician Association of Colorado. It is one of the oldest, and strongest, state EMS associations. EMSAC comprises paid and volunteer professionals both: including EMTs, advanced EMTs, paramedics and emergency medical responders; physicians, nurses, PAs, EMS instructors and emergency medical dispatchers from virtually every region of Colorado.
Through the core association functions of Advocate, Communicate and Educate, EMSAC strives to:
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Jul
15
EMS Chiefs, Managers and Directors Section
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Jun
22
Despite the 108° heat in Yuma, Friday was a good day for Colorado EMS
Yuma—June 21
Region 1 Representative Nick Nudell and Yuma Ambulance Service Director Keriann Josh met with U.S. Representative Lauren Boebert to discuss EMS priorities, with discussion points prepared by our advocacy team. Congressional District 4 comprises most all of Colorado's eastern plains.
Together, they emphasized how EMS is the backbone of healthcare and public safety in rural communities—often the only access point to emergency care—and how smart, flexible federal policies can empower local systems to thrive.
• Federal recognition of EMS as an essential service
• Fair and sustainable reimbursement models that reflect the cost of rural readiness
• Reimbursement for treatment in place and community paramedicine
• EMS as a partner in expanding telehealth and improving care access
• Supporting mental health and PTSD coverage for paramedics, recognizing the toll of repeated exposure to trauma
• The importance of the Congressional EMS Caucus in shaping responsive and effective EMS policy
We’re grateful to Rep. Boebert for taking the time to engage on these issues. Her leadership is vital in ensuring that rural EMS systems are equipped, supported, and sustainable for both the communities they serve and the professionals who serve in them.
Rep. Boebert committed to joining the Congressional EMS Caucus during the meeting. Thank you, City of Yuma Ambulance Service for hosting the meeting.
Jun
19
2025 Legislative Session Summary
Some wins—some losses
By John Seward
EMSAC Advocacy Committee
On May 7, the First Regular Session of the 75th General Assembly of the State of Colorado came to a close. EMSAC and its government relations team were there, under the gold dome, for all 120 days of this year’s session. Among the many important topics EMSAC advocated for this year, none was more important than ground ambulance billing, ending surprise medical billing, and ensuring that ambulance agencies receive fair reimbursement from healthcare insurance providers for care provided. With the bipartisan sponsorship of Representatives Karen McCormick and Kyle Brown and Senators Mark Baisley and Kyle Mullica, House Bill 25-1088 created a common-sense solution, one shared by nearly a dozen other states. The bill passed unanimously in both houses, with not a single representative or senator voting in opposition, only to be vetoed by the governor. It is believed that this is the first time in history that a Colorado governor has ever vetoed a bill that received unanimous legislative approval.
“This unprecedented veto begs the question, ‘Whose interests are the most important here?” said Rep. Karen McCormick. “Big insurance carriers that, according to Division of Insurance reports, had a combined net income of more than $422 million in 2023 alone opposed these protections for Colorado families.”
“Coloradans will face unnecessary financial challenges this year because of the administration’s unilateral decision to veto the General Assembly’s unanimous, bipartisan solution,” said Sen. Mark Baisley. “I’m frustrated by the action and by our inability to address this now. It makes me even more determined to right this wrong moving ahead.”
While this is a setback and the governor’s veto is disappointing, it only strengthens EMSAC’s resolve to continue fighting for our patients and ambulance agencies across the state. Rep. Kyle Brown said, “We’ll tackle this issue early during the next legislative session. We look forward to once again receiving overwhelming support from the General Assembly and hope the administration will work with us to end surprise billing for ambulance services once and for all.” Let’s remember that Ground ambulance services comprise 0.3% of health insurers’ annual spending. We’re but a ‘rounding error’ to insurance companies that make billions of dollars in profit every year, in part by underpaying claims.
Despite this setback, EMSAC is excited to celebrate our many victories from the session. Victories only made possible because of great partners at the Colorado State Fire Chiefs, Colorado Professional Firefighters, Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, Colorado Counties Inc., Colorado Municipal League, and Special District Association of Colorado.
This year, despite a nearly a billion-dollar state budget deficit, EMSAC secured a 1.6% increase in the Medicaid reimbursement rate. We supported the successful passage of Senate Bill 25-192, which reauthorized Community Integrated Healthcare Services, enabling the continuation of community paramedic programs. We supported House Bill 25-1195, regarding voter registration confidentiality for first responders; House Bill 25-1247, enabling the expansion of counties’ lodging tax authority to include funding for EMS; Senate Bill 25-060, regarding repeated phone calls that obstruct government operations; and Senate Bill 25-191 ensuring cardiac emergency plans for school sports and making AEDs more readily available.
EMSAC worked to amend Senate Bill 25-042 to ensure EMS is represented in a statewide study of behavioral health crisis response and Senate Bill 25-130 regarding the regulation of emergency departments and not field-based EMS providers.
Some of EMSAC’s supported bills were defeated, such as House Bill 25-1227, which would have made clarifications to the law on assault in the second degree to protect EMS providers, and Senate Concurrent Resolution 25-001, which would have created a property tax exemption for first responders. While both bills were unsuccessful this year, variations of the same will be introduced next year, and EMSAC looks forward to continuing its support.
Our lobbying and government relations team at Howes Wolf was at the Capitol every day of this legislative session advancing the EMS agenda. Together with our coalition of EMS advocacy partners at Mutch Government Relations and the Capstone Group, EMSAC kept emergency medical services at the center of discussion and debate among the state’s Senators and Representatives. EMSAC eagerly awaits the next legislative session to continue the work of advocating for its members and partners.
Read Governor Polis' HB25-1088 veto letter to the legislature here.
Governor Polis vetoes Consumer Protection Bill That Received Unanimous Legislative Support
Category: General Discussions
Jun
19
For Immediate Release
May 30, 2025
For further Information:
Howard Paul — (303) 829-5678 — [email protected]
Priya Telang — (313) 820-2428 — [email protected]
Polis Administration Sides with Big Insurance Carriers by Vetoing Consumer Protection Bill That Received Unanimous Legislative Support
Insurance Companies’ Unsubstantiated Claims Carried More Weight Than Unified Voice of Legislators and a Broad Stakeholder Coalition
In a move that’s shocked legislators, healthcare providers, and consumer advocates, Governor Jared Polis today vetoed a patient protection bill that received unanimous support from the bipartisan General Assembly. HB25-1088, sponsored by Representative Karen McCormick, Representative Kyle Brown, Senator Kyle Mullica, and Senator Mark Baisley, would have ensured patients received no surprise “balance bills” after seeking ambulance care.
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Feb
27
By Sean Caffrey
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Feb
26
On February 18, dozens of EMS providers across the state descended on Denver for 2025 EMS Day at the Capitol. We offer our gratitude to Rep. Dusty Johnson and Sen. Mark Baisley for their tributes to Colorado EMS, as members were recognized for their public service on the floor of the State House and Senate.
The day also included meetings with individual legislators, a conversation with the Behavioral Health Administration and the annual legislative reception. This year’s gathering was the largest in EMSAC history and left its mark on state legislators, who said they would keep Colorado EMS at the front of their minds.
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Colorado Legislation Designed to Protect Ambulance Patients and Financial Stability of EMS
Category: General Discussions
Feb
25
EMSAC ADVOCACY
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Feb
20
The federal EMS on the Hill Day is approaching and there is a major shift in all things government that influence EMS, from billing to grant funding and, possibly, regulatory oversight.
Starting first with the Medicare extenders. For those not familiar with it, EMS providers have been paid a Medicare extender bonus. House Bill 10545 passed by the US Senate and the House of Representatives extended the temporary Medicare ambulance add-on payments of 2% urban, 3% rural and 22.6% super rural through March 31, 2025. Most ambulance operations have a payer mix of at least one-fourth or more that are Medicare patients. Colorado’s rural ambulance services stand to lose 22% of their reimbursement.