EMS Chiefs, Managers and Directors Section
EMS-CMD held its regular meeting on July 9, 2025, immediately before the State Emergency Medical and Trauma Services Council (SEMTAC) meeting, both online and at the CDPHE offices in Glendale. The group included many in-person and virtual attendees, with diverse representation from various EMS organizations, including:
- Nick Nudell, Northeast RETAC.
- Tim Dienst, Ute Pass Regional Health Service District.
- Eric Murray, Southwest RETAC.
- Scott Scholes, Durango FPD EMS, EMSAC, immediate past president of MSEC.
- Bruce Evans, Upper Pine Fire, Southwest RETAC.
- Jamie Woodworth, Denver Health Paramedic, and SEMTAC member.
- Mike Lenning, AMR, Pueblo Canon City.
- Reena Martinez, San Luis Valley RETAC.
- Brandon Chambers, Southern and SE RETACs.
- Kim Schallenberger, PTP RETAC
- Matt Concialdi, Platteville-Gilcrest Fire Rescue
- Chris Howes, Howes-Wulf
Legislative Updates and Future Sessions
EMSAC’s lobbyist at the State Capitol Chris Howes discussed the political landscape, noting that Senator Nick Heinrichsen will not seek re-election and that State Representative Shannon Byrd is running for Congress. He highlighted a rumored special session on August 11th to tackle budget concerns and the impact of new legislation on essential services, including EMS. Howes emphasized the importance of these discussions for the state's financial health.
We have since learned State Representative Dusty Johnson has reserved a bill title for an “Essential Service for EMS” bill. She has allowed us access to the bill drafters, and she would like us to get started.
Discussion on EMS Funding and Protocols
Chief Bruce Evans of Upper Pine River FPD raised issues regarding a potential tax on overtime pay that could frustrate employees who anticipated a pay bump. They highlighted the transition to Wake County protocols, particularly the use of the costly Cyanokit, and noted that North Carolina's essential service bill mandates Medicaid to cover its expenses. There are concerns about the governor's influence from the insurance industry regarding the bill's approval.
Discussion on Sales Tax and Online Sales Impact
Evans then highlighted significant declines in sales tax revenues impacting fire organizations, noting that online sales data is not being included in sales tax calculations. Chris Howes, who previously advocated for state sales tax on online purchases, was surprised by this oversight and offered to help address the issue. The discussion emphasized the need for better data to support funding for fire districts.
Advocacy Updates and Legislative Discussions
Nick Nudell reported on his productive meeting with U.S. Representative Lauren Boebert, highlighting her support for essential services and her willingness to draft a federal bill. Chris Howes explained the legislative process concerning the governor's veto, noting that while it is powerful, there is a possibility for the legislature to override it in February. Timothy Dienst announced plans to set up meetings to discuss the essential service bill.
EMS CMD Meeting Updates and Discussion on Retreat
Tom Anderson reported on the recent EMSAC board meeting, highlighting the appointment of Hannah Muth as the new region six representative and an upcoming decision on a new region four representative. He also mentioned the successful CEMSEA conference and the upcoming state conference in November. Kim Schallenberger added that award nominations for the November conference are being received, with a reminder about the memorials program.
EMS Task Force Coordination and Future Planning
Evans also noted the successful coordination of EMS task forces in Texas and their collaboration with Colorado to implement similar strategies. Updates were provided by conference room participants on a recent NDMS exercise that focused on mass care logistics, emphasizing the importance of funding and legislative backing for effective implementation. Upcoming discussions at the SEMTAC were also mentioned to further explore these concepts.
Discussion on EMS Task Force and Funding Models
Brandon Daruna discussed the need for proactive planning in light of FEMA's restructuring and its implications for state emergency services. Nudell offered context from his role on the Homeland Security Advisory Committee, noting that EMS was included in CMAS discussions but faced reimbursement challenges for non-governmental agencies. The group acknowledged the necessity of a cohesive system to manage resources effectively during emergencies.
Understanding EMAC and EMS Resource Coordination
The intricacies of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) system were highlighted, noting that out-of-state personnel can operate in Colorado without state licensing under a governor's executive order. Cherilyn Wittler inquired about the possibility of deploying ambulance services and expressed difficulties in identifying the appropriate contacts. Guidance was provided on the necessary qualifications and resources needed for such deployments.
EM Resource and Communication Challenges
The difficulties surrounding the EM Resource system were discussed, with the concern raised that it may not exist anymore due to funding issues. Matt Concialdi emphasized the importance of consistent participation in the system and proposed the need for automatic notifications to improve communication. A unified approach to emergency response systems was advocated.
Discussion on FEMA Guidelines and Resource Management
Upper Pine FPD Chief Evans raised concerns about the need to follow FEMA guidelines for ambulance types to avoid creating a conflicting state system. He explained the implications of not having a resource order, which could leave providers unprotected during disaster responses. It was noted that these issues were addressed in a prior exercise with Eric Epley, who has developed a comprehensive system over the years. Epley is the Executive Director of the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council for Trauma (STRAC) in San Antonio, Texas, serving 22 counties over 26,000 square miles, and includes 55 hospitals, 75 EMS agencies and 14 helicopter bases.