Aug
19
Advocacy Committee meeting July 15, 2025
Members Present: Tim Dienst, David DeTrey, Gabriel Moreno, John Seward, Katie Wolf, Chris Howes, William Mutch, Austin Wingate, Zach Alvey, Reuben Farnsworth, Sean Caffrey.
Quick recap
The committee discussed strategies for protecting Medicaid funding during the special session, including preparing advocacy letters for key stakeholders and exploring potential bills for amendments related to EMS services. They organized two working groups to develop legislation: one focused on the Essential Service Bill led by Sean, and another on the Lieutenant Governor's OEHI project led by Reuben, with both teams planning to pursue treatment-in-place initiatives that could save costs compared to traditional ambulance transport and ER visits. Members agreed to prioritize the provider rate battle during the special session before addressing other initiatives like the Rural Health Transformation Fund letter, with Katie volunteering to hand-deliver advocacy letters to legislative leadership. Sean and Reuben will be setting up meetings and inviting members for their respective topics.
Action items undertaken
• Katie to hand deliver letters to Speaker, President, and JBC chair next week
• Katie to email copies of letters to all stakeholders and CC Tim
• Sean to circulate previous Essential Service Bill draft to the group
• Reuben to coordinate Zoom/Team meetings for OEHI group
• Sean to set up meetings for Essential Service group after special session
• Tim to send email listing group members and their assignments
• Katie and Jeannie to follow up with Katie Stewart regarding bill title for treatment in place
• Chris and William to review bills when released tomorrow for EMS impact
• John to review bills for potential amendment opportunities regarding treatment in place
• Advocacy group members to complete online legislative letters
• Zach to coordinate with NAEMT assistant advocacy coordinators
• Katie to hand deliver letters to Speaker, President, and JBC chair next week
• Katie to email copies of letters to all stakeholders and CC Tim
• Sean to circulate previous Essential Service Bill draft to the group
• Reuben to coordinate Zoom/Team meetings for OEHI group
• Sean to set up meetings for Essential Service group after special session
• Tim to send email listing group members and their assignments
• Katie and Jeannie to follow up with Katie Stewart regarding bill title for treatment in place
• Chris and William to review bills when released tomorrow for EMS impact
• John to review bills for potential amendment opportunities regarding treatment in place
• Advocacy group members to complete online legislative letters
• Zach to coordinate with NAEMT assistant advocacy coordinators
Summary of Healthcare Legislation and Payment
• John discusses two potential bills that could be relevant for attaching amendments: one from Representative Ricks about changing healthcare provider practice scope for cheaper preventive care, and another from Representative Barron about Health Insurance Affordability Fund allocation. Sean mentions receiving his settlement information from PCG regarding ambulance supplemental payment, noting his Medicaid calls decreased from 16 to 11. The group briefly discusses a possible redo of bill 1088 for the next regular session, with Timothy indicating they're waiting for updates from Tina on that topic.
• John discusses two potential bills that could be relevant for attaching amendments: one from Representative Ricks about changing healthcare provider practice scope for cheaper preventive care, and another from Representative Barron about Health Insurance Affordability Fund allocation. Sean mentions receiving his settlement information from PCG regarding ambulance supplemental payment, noting his Medicaid calls decreased from 16 to 11. The group briefly discusses a possible redo of bill 1088 for the next regular session, with Timothy indicating they're waiting for updates from Tina on that topic.
Medicaid Funding Advocacy Strategy Session
Timothy welcomes everyone and outlines the agenda, which includes discussing strategies for the special session, preserving Medicaid funding, and responding to new opportunities. The group has prepared letters for key stakeholders including the chair of the JVC, Senate President, and Speaker of the House, along with an advocacy alert containing a sample letter for members to write to their representatives. Chris and Katie commend the proactive approach and suggest sending the letters to the entire Health Committee to build broader support, with John noting that the current letters are addressed to the Speaker and President.
Timothy welcomes everyone and outlines the agenda, which includes discussing strategies for the special session, preserving Medicaid funding, and responding to new opportunities. The group has prepared letters for key stakeholders including the chair of the JVC, Senate President, and Speaker of the House, along with an advocacy alert containing a sample letter for members to write to their representatives. Chris and Katie commend the proactive approach and suggest sending the letters to the entire Health Committee to build broader support, with John noting that the current letters are addressed to the Speaker and President.
• Medicaid EMS Funding Protection Strategy
Timothy asks Katie to hand-deliver letters to the speaker, President, and JVC chair, and Katie agrees to do so while also emailing copies. The committee discusses the proactive approach to protecting Medicaid payments for EMS during the special session, with Katie noting that bills will be released the next day for review. John mentions looking for a bill with a sufficient title to add an amendment regarding treatment in place. The committee decides to put the Essential Service Bill on the back burner, with Sean mentioning that he and John have a draft from about a year and a half ago. Timothy then transitions to discussing a new opportunity presented by Miss Heath Field, noting that James is in Australia for the international roundtable of community paramedics.
Timothy asks Katie to hand-deliver letters to the speaker, President, and JVC chair, and Katie agrees to do so while also emailing copies. The committee discusses the proactive approach to protecting Medicaid payments for EMS during the special session, with Katie noting that bills will be released the next day for review. John mentions looking for a bill with a sufficient title to add an amendment regarding treatment in place. The committee decides to put the Essential Service Bill on the back burner, with Sean mentioning that he and John have a draft from about a year and a half ago. Timothy then transitions to discussing a new opportunity presented by Miss Heath Field, noting that James is in Australia for the international roundtable of community paramedics.
• Treatment in Place Legislative Strategy
Timothy believes they won't get a bill this special session, but possibly for the January legislative session. Katie shares that during a C3 trip, she and Jeannie discussed treatment in place with legislator Katie Stewart, who expressed strong interest in helping EMS and wants to discuss a potential bill after the special session. Farnsworth supports pursuing treatment in place with Allison (Eagle County), noting her high-level connections and suggesting they emphasize the cost-saving benefits of paying an ambulance base rate versus transport plus ER costs. Timothy shares his personal positive experience with a community paramedic and telehealth visit that saved him an ambulance trip and ER bill.
Timothy believes they won't get a bill this special session, but possibly for the January legislative session. Katie shares that during a C3 trip, she and Jeannie discussed treatment in place with legislator Katie Stewart, who expressed strong interest in helping EMS and wants to discuss a potential bill after the special session. Farnsworth supports pursuing treatment in place with Allison (Eagle County), noting her high-level connections and suggesting they emphasize the cost-saving benefits of paying an ambulance base rate versus transport plus ER costs. Timothy shares his personal positive experience with a community paramedic and telehealth visit that saved him an ambulance trip and ER bill.
• Medicaid and OeHI (Medicaid & Private Insurance) Bill Subcommittees
Timothy suggests moving forward with discussions with both the Lieutenant Governor's office and Katie Stewart regarding Medicaid and private insurance aspects of the bill. He proposes forming two subcommittees: one for Essential Service and another for the Lieutenant Governor's OEA HI project, noting they have until the end of the year to prepare legislation for treatment in place and MIH. Timothy also shares that he has emailed the group a letter related to the Rural Health Transformation Fund, asking for feedback before sending it to the Governor and potentially the Medicaid Real Board.
Timothy suggests moving forward with discussions with both the Lieutenant Governor's office and Katie Stewart regarding Medicaid and private insurance aspects of the bill. He proposes forming two subcommittees: one for Essential Service and another for the Lieutenant Governor's OEA HI project, noting they have until the end of the year to prepare legislation for treatment in place and MIH. Timothy also shares that he has emailed the group a letter related to the Rural Health Transformation Fund, asking for feedback before sending it to the Governor and potentially the Medicaid Real Board.
• Essential Service and OEHI Teams
Timothy organizes two working groups: one for the Essential Service Bill led by Sean, and another for OEHI led by Reuben. Volunteers are assigned to each group with Sean, Austin, Zach, William, Chris Howes, John, and Gabriel on the Essential Service team, while Reuben, David DeTray, Katie, James, Theo, Annie, Alice, and Jeremy will work on OEHI. Other members of the committee can join either group by contacting Sean and Reuben.
Katie agrees to contact Katie Stewart about pulling a bill title for the OEHI initiative for the upcoming legislative session. The groups will meet separately but provide updates during the regular Friday meetings, with Timothy planning to email everyone the group assignments afterward.
Timothy organizes two working groups: one for the Essential Service Bill led by Sean, and another for OEHI led by Reuben. Volunteers are assigned to each group with Sean, Austin, Zach, William, Chris Howes, John, and Gabriel on the Essential Service team, while Reuben, David DeTray, Katie, James, Theo, Annie, Alice, and Jeremy will work on OEHI. Other members of the committee can join either group by contacting Sean and Reuben.
Katie agrees to contact Katie Stewart about pulling a bill title for the OEHI initiative for the upcoming legislative session. The groups will meet separately but provide updates during the regular Friday meetings, with Timothy planning to email everyone the group assignments afterward.
• Rural Health Letter Timing Strategy
The group discusses the timing of sending a letter regarding the Rural Health Transformation Fund, with Chris suggesting they wait until after the special session to avoid overwhelming state officials who have limited staff and attention spans. Katie and William agree, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the provider rate battle first. Austin notes some names are misspelled in the draft letter. Zach Alvey, the NAEMT State advocacy coordinator, mentions he's building a network of assistant advocacy coordinators and encourages everyone to fill out online legislative letters. Katie confirms she will hand-deliver letters to the Speaker, President, and JVC chair next week and email them before the special session.
The group discusses the timing of sending a letter regarding the Rural Health Transformation Fund, with Chris suggesting they wait until after the special session to avoid overwhelming state officials who have limited staff and attention spans. Katie and William agree, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the provider rate battle first. Austin notes some names are misspelled in the draft letter. Zach Alvey, the NAEMT State advocacy coordinator, mentions he's building a network of assistant advocacy coordinators and encourages everyone to fill out online legislative letters. Katie confirms she will hand-deliver letters to the Speaker, President, and JVC chair next week and email them before the special session.
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