HB316

This bill would have a significant, negative impact on existing ambulance agencies across the state. Unintended consequences would include reduced emergency ambulance coverage (by both municipal and private providers) due to reductions in work force and/or equipment as a result of reduced revenue to operate. Rural areas are particularly prone to this impact, with the potential for delayed response times leading to catastrophic outcomes. You might think a delay in response of a few minutes isn't significant. How about one minute? What’s the big deal, right? For a patient in cardiac arrest, that could mean a minute’s worth of chest compressions (around 100), circulating oxygenated blood through the patient’s body. Only a minute - but a costly one. I urge you to look beyond the dollar signs and prioritize the value of that one minute to patients and their families.

Position recorded without written comment.