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Justice addresses issues facing EMS across West Virginia

Gov. Jim Justice talk about a friend infected with COVID-19 during a press briefing Wednesday morning. (Photo Provided)

CHARLESTON — Gov. Jim Justice spent part of his virtual briefing Wednesday talking about ways to help emergency medical services as manpower shortages and increased healthcare and fuel costs cause issues, particularly in rural communities.

Speaking from his office in the Capitol Wednesday morning, Justice announced the Department of Health and Human Resources’ Bureau for Medical Services will seek approval to increase the ground ambulance medical transportation services reimbursement rate to 100 percent of the Medicare geographic prevailing fee.

“This week, I have instructed the DHHR Bureau for Medical Services to submit a State Plan Amendment to seek approval to raise the ground ambulance medical transportation services to 100 percent,” Justice said.

According to DHHR, the rate increase will provide the state’s 208 ambulance service providers an additional $11.8 million, or a 10 percent increase, each fiscal year effective July 1.

“This is important for West Virginia’s Medicaid Program to ensure continued access to essential health care services,” said Cindy Beane, commissioner of DHHR’s Bureau for Medical Services, in a statement Wednesday.

The West Virginia EMS Coalition also released a statement Wednesday praising Justice and DHHR for making the rate increase request for ground ambulance services.

“The West Virginia EMS Coalition appreciates the continued leadership of Governor Jim Justice in addressing the crisis facing emergency medical services in West Virginia,” the statement read. “The announcement by Governor Justice during Wednesday’s COVID briefing that Medicaid rates will be increased 10 percent to 100 percent of Medicare for ground ambulance service is a significant step towards stabilizing EMS agencies in West Virginia.”

Wednesday’s announcement comes on the heels of a new initiative launched by Justice to recruit and train new EMS workers. Called “EMS WV: Answer the Call,” the initiative will fund new initiatives to retain and hire EMS workers across the state. The program is being funded by $10 million in federal C.A.R.E.S. Act funds still remaining.

“As we’ve seen over and over again during the pandemic, our EMS workers are absolute heroes,” Justice said in a statement last week announcing the program. “Whenever we need help, they are always the first ones to run to the fire. But heroes like these don’t grow on trees. They’re few and far between and we need to act now to bring more of them into our state.”

Justice had previously announced last year a $10 million program funded by C.A.R.E.S. Act dollars for an Emergency Management Crisis Fund. It was unclear whether this was that same funding or new funding. According to the State Auditor’s Office, only $8.8 million of the $1.25 billion in C.A.R.E.S. Act funds remain. All remaining C.A.R.E.S. Act funds must be appropriated by Sept. 30.

The Community and Technical College System of West Virginia, under the direction of Justice, has been reviewing EMS training in the state’s two-year colleges. Recommendations include investing in EMS training simulators, making EMS training free, studying EMS manpower needs, mobile training labs, and an EMS recruitment campaign.

“Workforce shortages and inadequate funding are plaguing emergency medical services nationally. But West Virginia is establishing itself as a leader in addressing this crisis,” the West Virginia EMS Coalition statement continued. “Gov. Justice’s EMS initiative launched last week to recruit and educate EMS personnel along with enhanced Medicaid reimbursement rates are providing a roadmap that other states can follow to address the crisis.”

Steven Allen Adams can be reached at adams@newsandsentinel.com.

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