.png){kind=logo}
DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to save Coloradans money on health care and support Emergency Medical Services (EMS) workers, especially in rural and underserved communities.
“This bill really is a win-win for Colorado – it saves our state millions of dollars and supports our EMS personnel and the patients they serve,” said Rep. Lisa Feret, D-Arvada. “This policy allows our neighbors to be transported by EMS to the proper location, like behavioral health facilities, and receive treatment in place. Together, we’re saving everyone time and freeing up emergency room beds for those who truly need them.”
“When I worked as an EMT in Southwest Colorado, we provided on-site care to many patients, but EMS was often not reimbursed for those calls because we didn’t transport patients to the emergency room,” said Rep. Katie Stewart, D-Durango. “Without proper reimbursement, EMS in rural communities like mine are running on thin margins, and this bill helps them receive the reimbursement they deserve for the care they provide. Our bill saves patients money by giving EMS the option to transport patients to a behavioral health crisis center, or forgo transport altogether when appropriate.”
HB26-1069 passed the House by a vote of 62-0. This bill would streamline funding for EMS in Colorado by expanding the services eligible for reimbursement. EMS providers regularly provide essential on-site treatment, also known as treatment in place (TIP), which costs significantly less than a trip to the emergency room. However, EMS providers are only reimbursed 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 a crisis stabilization facility. HB26-1069 also improves access to care by allowing Medicaid to reimburse for certain telehealth care 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.