Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins is backing a bill that would require Medicare to reimburse EMS providers even if a patient isn’t taken to a hospital.

The bill would create a pilot program aimed at financially supporting ambulance services, especially in rural areas.

Senator Collins is a senior member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. She introduced the bill with Independent Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia.

It would allow Medicare to reimburse for “treat-in-place” EMS services for certain medical issues, which according to Collins, would expand access to critical health services and reduce unnecessary emergency room visits and expenses.

Maine Governor Janet Mills signed a similar state measure in 2023, but it does not cover EMS reimbursements for services to federally covered Medicare patients.

The bill from Collins would allow seniors on Medicare to receive at-home emergency medical services to treat minor medical incidents. In addition to the services provided by EMS, part of the program would call for patients to be advised to follow-up with their primary care provider to ensure continuity of care.

The measure is getting strong support from the state’s ambulance service advocacy group, which claims it’ll help them cover expenses that otherwise put them in a financial squeeze. “The Maine Ambulance Association believes that this legislation will directly address the funding gap for non-transport calls, helping to ensure that EMS systems remain viable and able to meet the growing demands of our communities,” said Maine Ambulance Association Executive Director Robert “Butch” Russell.