Emergency Medical Services

For the next seven months, Juliaetta and Kendrick in north central Idaho will not have local emergency medical coverage 24 hours a day.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that, for now, Idaho’s abortion ban cannot be enforced in medical emergencies. Reactions to the temporary decision were mixed across the board.

Idaho Matters takes a look at the news that made headlines this week, including how lawmakers are responding to the IDHW audit, an update on Emergency Medical Services in Valley County and why two Idaho newspapers are closing.

Voters will see two issues on the ballot November 7th: one would create a new county-wide EMS district, and separately, the $4 million dollar tax override levy to pay for it. County officials and first responders say the area has outgrown its existing EMS structure and funding.

When it comes to Idaho's rural communities access to Emergency Medical Services can be limited. That's due in part to the fact that EMS is not considered an essential service in the Gem State. Funding and staffing issues also pose obstacles, often leaving patients in these areas with longer wait times and a reduced quality of care - putting the responsibility of these services back on rural communities.

Solo hiking can be a beautiful and peaceful experience, but when you face a medical emergency alone, its important to know the right steps to take.

The first step would be to label EMS an "essential" government function.

State senators are urging the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to come up with a way to better support EMS services statewide.

“The way that we're funded is I can either pay people more or I can add more resources, but I can't do both at the same time,” said Ada County Chief Paramedic Shawn Rayne.

Since June, Denny and a group including paramedics, firefighters and county commissioners have been meeting monthly in the "EMS Sustainability Task Force."