County Presses State for EMS Funding

Young County Commissioners unanimously passed a resolution at their April 14 meeting supporting state legislation that would boost funding for rural emergency medical services, a move they hope will send a strong message to lawmakers in Austin.

The resolution backs Senate Bill 1377 and House Bill 3000, both addressing the growing financial challenges faced by rural EMS providers. The legislation would allocate funding for essential capital assets like ambulances and emergency equipment but does not yet include money to cover staffing costs, which County Judge Win Graham says is the most pressing need.

“What I’m hearing from the people that are giving me updates … is that right now they’re not talking about funding people, it’s just equipment, and that’s a big problem. The biggest cost is the people part, not the equipment,” he told Commissioners.

The resolution emphasizes the vital role EMS plays in protecting the health and safety of rural residents. Judge Graham noted that both Olney Hamilton Hospital and Graham Regional Medical Center, which provide EMS coverage in the county, have considered pulling back from servicing areas outside city limits due to rising costs and limited resources.

“Most of the county judges in Texas have been really lobbying for this because the rural county EMS services are under water,” Judge Graham said.

While the current version of the bill focuses on equipment, Judge Graham and other county leaders across Texas are pushing for broader funding that includes EMS personnel. He compared the effort to the successful passage of Senate Bill 22, which funded rural law enforcement in 2023, and expressed hope that similar attention can now be turned to EMS.

The resolution will be sent to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House, and Young County’s elected representatives.