LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – New legislation in the Michigan House of Representatives is seeking to address emergency medical personnel shortages across the state. Representative Dave Prestin from Michigan’s 108th House district introduced two bills he says will remove some of the pressure on Emergency Medical Services.
The first bill lowers the age requirements for EMS to 17, the other extends temporary licenses for EMTs and paramedics.
Representative Prestin says that in his experience as a paramedic, he’s seen firsthand how the shortages are affecting EMTs and that he hopes to continue to introduce policies to assist Emergency Medical Service Workers.
“We’re running into kids in high school, that are graduating at 17, fully accredited with their license all ready to go, but in the state of Michigan, they can’t start actually running and practicing until they’re 18.” Representative Prestin said. “Because they can’t get into the labor force right away, they’re getting another job, and then not coming back to what they went to school for, which is EMS, and we’re losing a fraction of them.”
The bill would roll the age back that a person can start in EMS, specifically as a Medical First Responder or Emergency Medical Technician, to 17. The bill is currently referred to the House Health Policy Committee and is waiting for a hearing. Representative Prestin says his hope is this bill will help retain new EMTs who are graduating from high school with an interest in EMS but currently would have to wait to start working as an EMT.
In May, Representative Prestin introduced a similar bill that would amend the Public Health Code to extend the time that a temporary license for a Medical First Responder, Emergency Medical Technician, Emergency Medical Technician Specialist, or Paramedic is valid. The bill is just waiting to see a vote in the House before it’s handed over to the Senate.
“I’m attacking ems with little bits like extending the temporary license period, and rolling the age back a year,” Representative Prestin said. “Every little bit helps build capacity in a system that is strained almost to the breaking point.”
According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the main issue is the increased number of EMS licensees who are no longer working for an EMS agency. While the change in the number of licensees living in the Upper Peninsula has not changed significantly, fewer licensees are working for agencies, making the workforce shortage felt more acutely.
Representative Prestin says he hopes to see this legislation passed as soon as possible and that he’s continuing to work on policy to help emergency medical personnel across the state.
