CT Written Testimony - Regarding SB 93: An Act Implementing the Rural Health Transformation Program - EMS Compact Provisions

Sep 23, 2026

Uploaded by OmBimo

Written testimony submitted before the Connecticut General Assembly Public Health Committee regarding SB 93, an act implementing the Rural Health Transformation Program to expand health care access. The testimony explains how the United States EMS Compact supports public safety, licensure mobility, disaster readiness, and national security, and argues Connecticut should adopt EMS Compact provisions. It highlights Connecticut’s existing EMS education and NREMT requirements, identifies gaps in access to the NEMSCD database, and cites rural workforce needs, response-time disparities, and local mutual-aid strain.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages10

Reading Time25 min

AccessFree to download

Execu&ve Summary

Connecticut EMS Compact readiness

Access to the NEMSCD database

Rural response-time and workforce needs

States where EMS Compact is law

Introduc&on

Testimony background and authority

The EMS Compact and Rural Health Transforma&on

SB 93 objectives and Connecticut data

United States EMS Compact he Interstate Commission for EMS Personnel Practic 5010 E. Trindle Road, Suite 202 Mechanicsburg, PA 17050 (202) 888-4142 [http://www.emscompact.gov/](http://www.emscompact.gov/) t WRITTEN TESTIMONY Before the Connecticut General Assembly Public Health Committee Regarding SB 93: An Act Implementing the Rural Health Transformation Program to Expand Health Care Access EMS Compact Provisions Submitted by: Donnie Woodyard, Jr., Executive Director Interstate Commission for EMS Personnel Practice Execu&ve Summary The EMS Compact is a public safety, public protection, disaster preparedness, and national security readiness instrument that directly supports the goals of SB 93’s Rural Health Transformation Program. It is law in 25 states with legislation introduced or expected in 10 more. It has been a bipartisan priority across four presidential administrations. Over 3,250 state legislators have voted “Yes” on this legislation with only 61 “No” votes—a 98% approval rate. Connecticut is EMS Compact ready. Connecticut already requires the same accredited EMS education programs and the same National Registry of EMTs (NREMT) licensure examination that the EMS Compact requires in all member states. The Compact also requires FBI-compliant biometric criminal history checks for new EMS licenses—a standard Connecticut has already adopted for nurses, long-term care workers, and educators, and should extend to EMS clinicians as a matter of professional parity and public protection. What Connecticut does not have today is access to the National EMS Coordinated Database (NEMSCD)—the only governmental system that provides real-time notification when an EMS clinician is disciplined, sanctioned, or has a license revoked in another state. Without the Compact, Connecticut has no systematic way to know. The EMS Compact closes that public safety blind spot. Connecticut has already enacted seven occupational licensure compacts for physicians, nurses, psychologists, counselors, physical therapists, physician assistants, and social workers. EMTs and Paramedics—the healthcare professionals who respond first to the most critical emergencies—deserve the same professional recognition and licensure mobility. More than 54% of Connecticut’s towns are classified as rural, with the longest emergency response times in the state. The Compact gives those communities access to a national EMS workforce of over 400,000 qualified clinicians—at zero cost to the state. It preserves local authority, supports military families, strengthens disaster readiness, and enhances public protection. Notably, both “EMS” and “Licensure compacts” are explicitly named as scored factors in the federal Rural Health Transformation Program’s $50 billion Notice of Funding Opportunity—meaning states that participate in the EMS Compact receive additional points on their federal applications, directly affecting funding allocations. The facts support passage. The EMS Compact is law in the following states: Alabama • Arkansas • Colorado • Delaware • Georgia • Idaho • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Louisiana • Mississippi • Missouri • Nebraska • Nevada • North Dakota • Oklahoma • Pennsylvania • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Virginia • West Virginia • Wyoming United States EMS Compact he Interstate Commission for EMS Personnel Practic 5010 E. Trindle Road, Suite 202 Mechanicsburg, PA 17050 (202) 888-4142 [http://www.emscompact.gov/](http://www.emscompact.gov/) t Introduc&on Co-Chairs Senator Anwar and Representative McCarthy Vahey, Ranking Members Senator Somers and Representative Klarides-Ditria, and distinguished members of the Public Health Committee: Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony in support of the EMS Compact provisions within SB 93, An Act Implementing the Rural Health Transformation Program to Expand Health Care Access. My name is Donnie Woodyard. I serve as Executive Dire

FAQs

What is SB 93 and what program does it implement?

SB 93 implements the Rural Health Transformation Program to expand health care access, with emphasis on rural and underserved Connecticut areas.

What does the EMS Compact add for Connecticut?

The EMS Compact supports public safety and licensure mobility and closes Connecticut’s gap in access to the National EMS Coordinated Database (NEMSCD) for real-time discipline, sanction, or license-revocation information from other states.

Why does the testimony emphasize rural conditions in Connecticut?

More than 54% of towns are classified as rural, with longer emergency response times and strain on a limited pool of active EMS professionals, requiring broader access to qualified clinicians and stronger cross-jurisdiction collaboration.

Sep 23, 2026

Uploaded by OmBimo