ROCHESTER, MN – Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) attended a roundtable discussion with ambulance service leaders, emergency medical professionals, hospital representatives, and local officials hosted by the Minnesota Ambulance Association to discuss the challenges that are impacting emergency medical services (EMS) providers in southern Minnesota. The conversation covered topics like Medicare reimbursement rates, federal programs and grants, workforce challenges, and coordination with health care providers.
“Our dedicated EMS providers work day in and day out to ensure our families, friends, and neighbors have lifesaving emergency transport and medical services,” said Rep. Finstad. “Access to ambulance services is an essential part of our rural healthcare and public safety infrastructure. Hearing the experiences and concerns directly from our first responders is what guides my efforts to support and advocate for our local providers while in Washington.”
Finstad continued, “I have heard from several ambulance service providers and EMTs across southern Minnesota about the challenges they are facing, especially in rural areas. I was proud to help introduce the PARA-EMT Act to address EMS staffing shortages by making it easier for experienced veterans to transition from medics to certified paramedics and EMTs. I also secured language in the House-passed FY27 NDAA that would require the Secretary of Defense to explore ways to remove barriers for military trained EMS technicians to transition into the civilian workforce. These legislative wins wouldn’t be possible without conversations like the ones we had in Austin, and I appreciate everyone who joined in.”
