.png){kind=logo}
DENVER, CO – The House Health and Human Services Committee today passed legislation to save Coloradans money on health care and support Emergency Medical Services (EMS) workers, especially in rural and underserved communities.
“EMS shows up to every call they receive, but only get reimbursed when they transport patients to the emergency room,” said Rep. Lisa Feret, D-Arvada. “By allowing treatment in place and transport to a more appropriate setting, we save patients time and Colorado taxpayers money. This bill will provide additional resources to emergency response providers while saving both hospitals, health plans and consumers money and freeing up emergency room beds for those who truly need it."
“Without proper reimbursement from health insurance companies, EMS in rural communities like mine are headed for financial collapse,” said Rep. Katie Stewart, D-Durango. “When I worked as an EMT in Southwest Colorado, we provided on-site care to many patients, but EMS was not reimbursed for those calls because we did not transport the patient to the emergency room. This bill saves patients money by eliminating the need to flood the emergency room with non-emergent cases, freeing up EMS so they can continue to provide essential care to our communities.”
HB26-1069 passed committee by a vote of 13-0. This bill would streamline funding for EMS in Colorado by reducing reimbursement red tape. EMS providers regularly provide essential on-site treatment, also known as treatment in place (TIP). On average, TIP costs significantly less than emergency room care and this bill seeks to expand TIP, saving time and money. However, EMS providers are only reimbursed by health insurance carriers if they transport a patient to an emergency room, even when that transport is not necessary. To help bridge some of the EMS funding gaps and reduce strain on health care providers, this bill would require private insurance and Medicaid to reimburse EMS for TIP.
To save patients and the state money on health care and sustain EMS in rural communities, this bill permits reimbursable EMS transit when an individual experiencing a behavioral health crisis is transported to an urgent care center. HB26-1069 also improves access to care by allowing Medicaid to reimburse for appropriate telehealth calls involving EMS.
TIP limits the need for costly emergency room visits, saving the state and patients money on health care. For example, a federal TIP pilot program showed a 193-percent cost-to-savings ratio for Medicare members receiving TIP services instead of emergency room visits. On the Western Slope, a 2022 analysis of 911 calls in Eagle County revealed that TIP reimbursement accounted for a preliminary cost savings of $1,285.40 to the state per TIP call. If passed, HB26-1069 would save Colorado $2.1 million in FY 2026-27, $4.6 million in FY 2027-28 and $4.9 million in future years.
Lastly, HB26-1069 ensures that social workers who co-respond in emergency settings are classified as first responders and receive the same benefits as EMS providers, which will strengthen workforce recruitment and retention, especially in rural or underserved areas.