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HD 3419

An Act establishing a task force to study the sustainability of emergency medical services

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by John Mahoney

Creates a MA EMS task force to study sustainability and funding, issuing recommendations on structure, support, and delivery to improve patient care and long-term viability.

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Bill Summary · HD 3419

Summary of House Docket No. 3419: An Act Establishing a Task Force to Study the Sustainability of Emergency Medical Services

Purpose and intent

  • Establish a special, collaborative task force to examine the sustainability and effectiveness of emergency medical services (EMS) in the Commonwealth.
  • Commission a comprehensive report with recommendations on how EMS is structured, funded, supported, and delivered, with an emphasis on patient quality of care and long-term viability.

Key provisions

  • Establishment and collaboration

    • Creates a special EMS task force within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (in collaboration with the Department of Public Health and the Emergency Medical Care Advisory Board).
    • The task force is charged with issuing a report and recommendations on EMS structure, support, and delivery in Massachusetts, including patient quality of care.

  • Scope of issues (non-exhaustive)

    • Designation of EMS as an essential service in the Commonwealth.
    • Workforce development, training, compensation, and retention of EMS personnel.
    • Costs versus expenses of care; reimbursement rates and methodologies.
    • Organization and potential reorganization of EMS services and the EMS advisory structure (including feasibility of reorganizing the advisory board within the EOPS).
    • Local and state support for EMS.

  • Planned analyses

    • Review methodologies for setting EMS and ambulance transport reimbursement rates; explore cost-based rate methods and higher reimbursement for longer distances or complex transports (including behavioral health-related transports).
    • Assess MassHealth non-emergency wheelchair van brokerage program effectiveness.
    • Analyze industry-wide workforce initiatives: recruitment, transitional and ongoing training, certification, licensure costs.
    • Examine impact of municipal ambulance contracts exempt from public bidding.
    • Evaluate administrative barriers to non-emergency transport access and use.
    • Consider external economic factors affecting EMS workforce (e.g., minimum wage changes, competition from other industries).
    • Provide recommendations on coverage and reimbursement for emerging models, such as mobile integrated health and alternative behavioral health transportation.

Task force composition

  • Co-chairs

    • Secretary of Health and Human Services or designee.
    • Commissioner of the Department of Public Health or designee.

  • Representatives (one from each organization)

    • Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association
    • Massachusetts Ambulance Association
    • Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts
    • Massachusetts Association of Behavioral Health Systems
    • Association for Behavioral Health Care
    • Massachusetts College of Emergency Physicians
    • Massachusetts Emergency Nurses Association
    • Massachusetts Senior Care Association

Timeline and deliverables

  • First meeting: Within 30 days of the act’s effective date.
  • Final report due: Within six months of the act’s effective date.
  • Recipients of the report: Clerks of the House and Senate, Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development, Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, and the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means. The report must also identify statutory, regulatory, budgetary, or other barriers to implementing the recommendations.

Status and context

  • Bill Number: HD 3419
  • Title: An Act establishing a task force to study the sustainability of emergency medical services
  • Introduced: January 17, 2025
  • Status: Not specified in the provided text
  • Related: Similar matter previously filed in the 2023-2024 session (House Bill No. 2154)

Potential impact

  • Provides a structured, multi-stakeholder review of EMS sustainability, potentially informing upgrades to reimbursement models, workforce development, and governance.
  • Could lead to policy changes regarding essential service designation, bidding rules on municipal contracts, and adoption of new EMS delivery or transport models.
  • Findings may prompt budgetary or regulatory changes to enhance EMS access, efficiency, and patient outcomes.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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