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Local Representative Fighting For Rural EMS

DeWitt County is not the only area of central Illinois dealing with ambulance service issues.

Fire Protection districts all over the area struggling because of Medicaid reimbursement rates are low and the cost of personnel is high. Representative Chapin Rose believes it stems from the amount of qualifications needed to become an EMT or Paramedic.

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Rep. Rose and Rep. Bill Mitchell held hearings to help a task force looking to improve the system get feedback from those directly involved. Rose says at one of those hearings the idea came up to hire young adults to drive the ambulances from point A to point B. He feels if some kids are allowed and qualified to drive combines on a farm, then they could be trained and qualified to drive an ambulance.

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With all the regulations and red tape currently in place, Rose feels central Illinois is on it's way to eliminating rural emergency services. He says if the local fire chief and ambulance service feels they have a qualified young adult to simply drive the vehicle, that would cut costs significantly.

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Being a former EMT, Rose feels strongly about this issue. He wants to see common sense restored to allow rural, small town communities to have ambulance services, and he feels confident the issue will get resolved.

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