Why Oklahoma first responders have concerns about Senate Bill

A bill making its way through the Oklahoma Capitol has drawn concerns from first responders. Senate Bill 1067 would reduce reimbursements to EMS departments. 

Rural EMS resources at risk of losing funding 

Some lawmakers argue this measure would lower costs for patients. One EMS leader said services are already underfunded and that this bill takes away more money and would hurt rural communities the most. 

“I think that we don’t treat healthcare ... like we should,” said Dr. Bill Worden, medical director of Heartland Medical Direction. “Ambulance services have taken cut after cut after cut. They’re under-reimbursed by about twenty-three hundred dollars per run.” 

Potential for EMS provider closures  

Heartland Medical Direction provides physician medical direction for about 150 affiliated agencies across 60 counties in Oklahoma, Worden said. About a third of those are rural EMS departments and providers. 

He said many can’t afford what this bill would create and that rural departments run on fumes. 

“Which could result in closure,” Worden said. 

Lawmakers have amended the legislation  

Lawmakers have restructured the bill to try to reach an agreement. Sen. Paul Rosino (R-OKC) has said his bill intends to keep people’s health plans from increasing.  

Worden said a new law took effect in January that set the Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates at 325%. He said it hasn’t been active long enough to know if higher health plan costs would be passed on to patients. 

“There’s no data to substantiate that there’s more expense, that there’s less expense or anything,” Worden said. 

Worden said the healthcare system is falling behind EMS costs 

Worden said healthcare finance is stuck in neutral. 

“And the insurance industry and Medicare and Medicaid haven’t kept up with the cost of EMS services,” Worden said. 

Fewer providers add time and distance because ambulances from other jurisdictions have to pick up the 911 calls. 

“If there’s someone who can’t get to the hospital when they’re delivering a baby and there’s no one around to help and that ambulance is coming from thirty minutes away, what is that person to do?” Worden said. 

Worden said the work of rural first responders is vital to public safety.  

"I see the importance, and I see that we can actually make a difference,” Worden said. 

He said the difference they can make relies on the ability to keep the engine running. 

“I pay my premiums to the insurance company,” Worden said. “You pay your premiums to the insurance company. they ought to pay the people providing those services.” 

Bill’s title stricken in House committee  

A House committee had this bill’s title stricken. That delays it for now while lawmakers work on new language, but allows the bill to remain on the table this legislative session.