A bill that the sponsor says will help rural ambulance services is one step closer to a vote in Madison.
Representative Jeff Mursau says his bill would change the regulations required for volunteer ambulance services across Wisconsin. He says he's spoken with emergency medical service providers in lightly-populated areas and they are struggling to keep service going....
"....they said one thing that would really help is instead of having two EMT's in a squad to transport, to be able to switch that to one EMT and one emergency responder...."
Currently two EMT's, licensed registered nurse, registered physician assistant, physician or a combination are required when transporting patients. The bill also requires the EMT or higher licensed person to remain with the patient at all times.
Under the bill only municipalities with a population of less than 10,000 would be allowed to have the new ambulance staffing requirements.
The Crivitz Republican said the bill unanimously passed the Assembly Health Committee. Mursau says it's likely to get a full hearing on the Assembly floor as soon as next week.
