Gov. Tony Evers signs emergency medical service bills into law

MADISON, Wis. (CIVIC MEDIA) — Gov. Tony Evers signed two bipartisan bills into law Tuesday that bolsters emergency medical services (EMS) in the state.

A news release from the Office of the Governor details that the bills, Senate Bill 182 and Senate Bill 183, will reduce the financial barriers for individuals seeking a career in EMS, including making training and licensure more financially accessible. The legislation also will reduce the cost for local governments and EMS providers by increasing the Medicaid reimbursement rate for calls when a patient isn’t transported to a care facility.

Evers said EMS professionals play a critical role in ensuring the safety of residents across Wisconsin.

EMS professionals play an essential role in the safety and security of our families, our communities, and our state. I’m glad to be signing these bipartisan bills that will help get more folks into this critical profession by reducing financial burdens for the training and education they need, while making sure providers can continue to provide life-saving care by ensuring they are getting reimbursed fairly for the care they provide. Nobody should ever call for help in an emergency and have to wonder whether help is going to come. We must continue to invest in and support Wisconsin’s EMS professionals and providers and ensure every community has the services they need to respond when Wisconsinites need them the most.

A study conducted in fall 2022 found that two out of five ambulance services in Wisconsin are not continuously staffed. The new legislation aims to address the challenges state EMS have contended with, including staffing and funding issues.