On July 11th Governor Mills signed a historic budget into law that included $31 million dollars to support the Maine Emergency Medical Services Stabilization and Sustainability Fund grant program. The funding became available on October 26th and the EMS Board passed an emergency rule on December 6th allowing Maine EMS to proceed with the $12 million dollar Stabilization component of the grant program.
The grant program will provide one time funding to qualified Maine based emergency medical services entities throughout the state to ensure Mainers have continued access to high quality emergency medical services. Maine EMS seeks to support this mission by ensuring that funding is used in a responsible and sustainable manner.
Applications can be found on the Maine EMS website https://www.maine.gov/ems/Stabilization and must be submitted electronically with all of the appropriate supporting documentation. The initial funding opportunity will remain open for 45 days.
Questions about the Stabilization Grant can be directed to https://forms.office.com/g/m7rRT0HpKf
The posting from the Secretary of State for Maine EMS Rules Chapter 24 can be found under "Adoptions" at https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/rules/notices/2023/121323.html
It reads:
AGENCY: 16-163 – Department of Public Safety, Maine Emergency Medical Services
CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE: Ch. 24, Implementing the Maine EMS Stabilization Program
ADOPTED RULE NUMBER: 2023-246 (Emergency)
CONCISE SUMMARY: The Emergency Medical Service’s Board is adopting an Emergency Rule to implement procedures for allocating stabilization funds totaling $12,000,000 to emergency medical services (hereafter “EMS”) entities created by 32 M.R.S. §98, which are intended to provide financial assistance to EMS entities at immediate risk of failing and leaving their communities without access to adequate emergency medical services. This emergency rule provides:
- Eligibility criteria
- Allocation algorithms
- The maximum and minimum funding allocations based upon service type (transporting ground ambulance or nontransporting ground ambulance services)
- The evaluation process for applications received
- The appeal process for application determinations
- Requirements and criteria for use of funds
- Identification of unauthorized use of funds
- Reporting requirements
- Delegation of authority to the Director of Maine EMS to enter into agreements with qualified applicants for the disbursement of stabilization funds totaling no more than $200,000 for any eligible EMS entities
EFFECTIVE DATE: December 13, 2023
AGENCY CONTACT PERSON: Jason J. Cooney, 152 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0152. Telephone: 207-626-3864. TTY: 207-287-3659. Fax: 207-287-6251. Email: Jason.J.Cooney@maine.gov
AGENCY WEBSITE: https://www.maine.gov/ems/