(The Heart Sq.) – A silver lining of the pandemic has been the motion taken by Pennsylvania lawmakers to rethink unnecessary well being care laws. 

One invoice that handed the Home however awaits approval within the Senate would finish staffing laws for emergency responders, giving extra flexibility to ambulance firms and serving to them function in rural areas.

HB2097, sponsored by Rep. Joe Hamm, R-Lycoming/Union, would make everlasting a COVID-era waiver that loosened a regulation requiring ambulance crews to be staffed by two individuals, one an EMT and one other at or above the identical rank. With the change, ambulances may very well be crewed by an EMT and authorized emergency personnel, resembling firefighters.

“Whereas modified with good intentions, coupled with staffing and volunteer shortages, funding challenges and rising protection areas, these laws have had dire penalties,” Hamm mentioned in a legislative memo.

“Lives are being misplaced, particularly in rural areas, as a result of educated firefighters and different licensed emergency response volunteers usually are not permitted to drive a car with out not less than an EMR and an EMT or two EMTs on board,” Hamm mentioned. “That should change at present, and we’ve got proof that it may be executed safely.”

The invoice handed unanimously within the Home in April and was referred to the Senate Veteran Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee.

Staffing shortages, monetary issues, and different points have been a lingering drawback throughout the commonwealth. A 2018 report from the Senate Decision 6 Fee urged reforms to cope with a worsening drawback.

“A mixture of long-term stagnant and declining reimbursements, restricted different monetary help, and adjustments to our societal view of volunteerism have negatively impacted EMS all through the state, resulting in EMS company failures and closures,” the report acknowledged. 

“Taken collectively, the numerous duties carried out by a reducing variety of volunteers solely exacerbates the issue and overwhelms those that stay lively,” it continued.

A lot of the report’s suggestions targeted on the best way to enhance volunteer recruitment and lift compensation for emergency responders, in addition to reforming outdated or costly laws.

Pandemic-era well being care waivers have granted extra flexibility throughout well being fields. The enlargement of telehealth within the state, as The Heart Sq. beforehand reported, expanded psychological well being entry.