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Rockford's fire department started with 12 home visits a year and now makes more than 4,000, and it pays for them with a local sales tax instead of a grant that runs out. San José just put its own community paramedicine pilot on a six-month clock, and an island with no hospital is sending out its first team this month. Meanwhile in Harrisburg, a bill would finally set what Medicaid pays when a crew treats a patient and doesn't transport.
Table of Contents:
Rockford's climb from 12 visits to 4,000, and the funding source behind it
San José's six-month test, and a new team on an island with no hospital
Funding Watch: two North Carolina counties add MIH money, and three conferences coming up
Policy Brief: Pennsylvania's bill to set a Medicaid rate for treat, no transport
Read Time: 3 minutes
Program Spotlight
The Rockford Fire Department's Mobile Integrated Health team was just named an MIH Week Champion by the National Association of Mobile Integrated Healthcare Providers. The program logged 12 encounters in its first year. Today it handles more than 4,000 a year, connecting residents with behavioral health, social services and medical care before the next 911 call.
Its hospital partner, UW Health SwedishAmerican, has reported emergency department visits down more than 50% and admissions down more than 25% since launch. The funding is the part to study: the program runs on a half-cent sales tax through the Winnebago County Community Mental Health Board, WIFR reported in May. The full story covers the award and the gaps the team targets.
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Program Roundup
One City Funds It With a Tax. Another Gave Itself Six Months.
A two-paramedic unit now works Monday through Thursday in downtown and the central and eastern response areas, with a review at 90 days and a final evaluation in March. Mayor Matt Mahan has said exactly which result he's watching for.
Orcas Island Fire and Rescue has an RN, two EMTs and a paramedic ready to start home visits by the end of October, with the island's health care district helping pay for it. Local partners kept naming one expensive problem that earlier care at home could prevent.
Who to Contact: Orcas Island Fire and Rescue MIH program (Debra O'Conner): [email protected] or 206-276-5805
Resources
Funding Watch
California: $50,000 community paramedicine grants, rolling. The CARESTAR Foundation funds California LEMSAs (local EMS agencies) with an approved community paramedicine or triage to alternate destination program, first come first served, by invitation.
Just funded: Catawba County, NC added $118,000 to its REACH community paramedicine program, bringing its grants to $313,000 for a response vehicle and radios with no county match. A day later, Lenoir County, NC accepted a $91,465 MIH grant.
Missed Virginia's round? The state's RHTP community paramedicine round (about $3.7 million, up to $400,000 per project) closed October 6. Watch the health department's page for year two.
On the Calendar
Colorado State EMS Conference, Keystone, November 5 to 8.
National Conference on EMS, Atlantic City, November 17 to 20.
NAEMSP 2027 Annual Meeting, Austin, January 11 to 16, which has included a full-day MIH and community paramedicine pre-conference workshop.
Now Hiring
Community Health Paramedic (CRT), Colorado Springs Fire Department. $59,370 to $71,273.
MIH Paramedic, South Shore Health, Weymouth, MA. $30.40 to $43.50 an hour.
Paramedic, Mobile Integrated Health, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Winston-Salem, NC. $25.30 to $37.95 an hour.
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Policy Brief: Pennsylvania Wants a Set Medicaid Rate for Treat, No Transport
Senate Bill 1147 cleared the Pennsylvania Senate Health and Human Services Committee in early October and now goes to the full Senate.
What it changes: Medicaid now pays for calls where a crew treats a patient but doesn't transport based on "reasonable costs," which the sponsors say often lands below a service's average cost. SB 1147 would replace that with a set rate.
Who it covers: EMS agencies that treat Medicaid patients on scene without taking them to a hospital.
Who's backing it: Sens. Lisa Baker, Michele Brooks and Doug Mastriano. The announcement doesn't name a dollar figure, so that's the number to watch as the bill moves.