Bill Could Allow Ambulances To Cross Wisconsin State Lines

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is supporting a bill that could change the way some border communities access emergency medical care.

State Rep. Todd Novak, R-Dodgeville, said people who live in border communities can’t call an ambulance across state lines.

“What this bill would do is allow limited exceptions so that ambulances can cross over for mutual aid,” he said.

Novak said some out-of-state emergency medical services personnel can’t respond because they don’t have the national certification required under Wisconsin law.

According to Novak, some critics claim the bill would send business to out-of-state providers. State Sen. Janet Bewley, D-Ashland, said that’s not the case.

“We’re only saying that if it’s an emergency (and) if you have the appropriate licensing in another state, that you would be able to respond to an emergency in Wisconsin,” said Bewley.

Novak said a committee of border state lawmakers will be formed to study the impacts of current law overseeing emergency care.