AAC
ing adequate funding for a second ambulance for the citizens of Perry County. We’ve formed an EMS Board and are looking at funding options.“ In 2015 the AAC produced the Ambulance Services Guide-
book, which serves as a resource of the laws and legal authori- ties concerning ambulance services in Arkansas. Tat version was updated in 2020, and a copy is posted on the AAC web- site under the “Publications” tab.
Non-Emergency Transports: Act 1041 od 2019
In 2019 the General Assembly launched a task force to tack- le another issue plaguing our ambulance services in Arkan- sas — nonemergency transports. House Bill 1710, now Act 1041 of 2019, sponsored by Rep. Mark Perry and Sen. Jimmy Hickey, Jr., seeks to address the precarious situation. Routinely, ambulances or law enforcement vehicles are used for nonemergency behavioral health transports. EMTs, para- medics, and ALS ambulances need to be used and available to address emergency medical needs in our counties. Likewise, law enforcement officers and vehicles are finite and are needed for law enforcement emergencies. Tese precious resources are fre- quently unavailable for their intended use, due to being taken out of the county to serve as nonemergency behavioral health trans- portation. It’s extremely wasteful for highly trained medical staff
RESEARCH CORNER
and highly equipped ambulances to be taken offline for use in nonemergency behavioral health transports. Likewise, use of law enforcement officers and vehicles for non-emergency behavioral transports takes them out of the county thereby creating a situa- tion in which they are not responsive to the public safety needs of their communities. Misdirection of these vital resources creates an unnecessary risk to the lives and safety of the public. Te task force discovered several factors that must be ad-
dressed. Other states face the same issues and have initiated pilot programs. However, no state seems to have settled on definitive solutions. Tere are several potential and less costly recommendations to consider. One of the most interesting potential recommendations includes expansion of the state’s existing unscheduled nonemergency medical transportation model. Another model might include provision of appropriate vehicles, contracts and reimbursement rates for nonemergency behavioral health transportations by virtue of the Commu- nity Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) situated throughout Arkansas. Te initial report of the task force supplied to the legislative committees is available via the link. Te Medicaid reimbursement rate for ALS ambulance ser- vices in Arkansas should be addressed and increased. Ambu- lance services are essential to our citizens’ health and should be treated accordingly.
COUNTY LINES, SPRING 2020
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