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Baptist Health ER Wall Time Update

In an effort to reduce ambulance “ER Wall Time,” Baptist Health is requesting that EMS services notify the Baptist Health Command Center at (501) 202-1000 when an ambulance departs a referring hospital inbound to the Emergency Department at the following locations:

Baptist Health Little Rock
Baptist Health North Little Rock
Baptist Health Conway
Baptist Health Fort Smith

Patient name and DOB
Referring hospital
Receiving hospital
Approximate ETA to the receiving hospital

Learn more about from the ArAA about the association's policy updates and what to look forward to in 2026! 

ArAA Policy Updates & 2026 Prep Webinar

SHARE is Arkansas statewide health information exchange. SHARE provides secure, real-time access to patient health data across care settings designed to support care in high-pressure, time-sensitive environments and supports both clinical decision-making and care coordination.

SHARE Presentation

2025-11-19 2026 Vantos PR Presentation.pdf

Vantos Network Operations in Arkansas (Vantos Health Network) manages provider credentialing, contracting, and network adequacy for health plans, impacting providers by determining which plans they participate in, how they are reimbursed, and patient access to services. 

EMS1 on MEDPAC's Impact on Ambulance Services

In December 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the first report from the Ground Ambulance Data Collection System (GADCS), highlighting that the costs of providing ambulance services—across public, private, and nonprofit providers—often exceed current Medicare reimbursement rates. The report was notable for including a broad range of provider types, unlike earlier studies by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which excluded certain providers due to concerns about data reliability.

In March 2025, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) reviewed the GADCS report. During this process, MedPAC excluded data from providers that share operational costs with other services (like fire departments or hospitals) and those with costs significantly higher than the average. This resulted in the removal of over half of the services included in the original dataset.

The article suggests that EMS agencies may need to focus on internal strategies—such as adopting telehealth, improving transfer protocols, and optimizing deployment—to manage costs and sustain operations, regardless of changes to Medicare payments.

Read More Here

ARRIVES Act

Arkansas Act 1021, known as the ARRIVES Act (Arkansas Revenue Investment in Vital EMS Systems), represents a crucial first step toward strengthening our state’s EMS infrastructure.

This newly enacted framework legislation lays the groundwork for assessing the needs of ambulance providers and establishing a fair and strategic method for distributing funds—particularly in underserved areas. These areas, often described as “healthcare deserts,” rely heavily on EMS to bridge the gap in access to essential medical services.

While the ARRIVES Act doesn’t allocate funding just yet, it sets the mechanism for how future resources can be distributed, ensuring that regions with the greatest service gaps can receive proportionate support.

However, this is just the beginning. The EMS industry is facing an unprecedented convergence of challenges:

- A shrinking and overburdened workforce

- Skyrocketing operational costs

- Inadequate reimbursement from public and private payers

- Increasing reliance on EMS as frontline healthcare in areas lacking clinics or physicians

The Arkansas Ambulance Association is committed to pushing forward. While no general funds have been appropriated to fund ARRIVES yet, the Association will continue to advocate for dedicated investment in EMS to ensure life-saving services remain accessible to every Arkansan—urban or rural.

During the week of April 25, 2025, Governor Sanders signed a new law requiring all public schools in Arkansas to implement a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP), aiming to improve emergency preparedness and save lives. This achievement was made possible by dedicated advocates who shared their stories, raised awareness, and pushed for change. Many of them were present at the bill signing to celebrate the passage of Act 352, a testament to the power of community-driven advocacy.

See Post Here

Arkansas has become the 25th state to join the United States EMS Compact. This will enable EMS clinicians to deliver care across state lines.

The Recognition of EMS Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact (REPLICA) enables Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel to practice across state lines. Over 20 states have already enacted this compact. It grants licensed EMS professionals from one member state the Privilege to Practice in other member states, supporting efficient and flexible EMS response.

To join the EMS Compact, states must enact uniform model legislation without making substantive changes.

The Arkansas Department of Health issued a press release on April 10, 2025 confirming an active measles case in Arkansas for the first time since 2018. 

The Department of Health has provided some guidelines for all EMS personnel that provide clinical guidance for responders. See guidelines here:  PPE-Transport Measles Guidance for EMS 4-11-25 .pdf

Adopted March 1, 2025: Joint Position Statement on Criminal Liability for Alleged Deviations from Clinical Standards of Care in Emergency Medical Services 

This Joint Position Statement from several National EMS Organizations outlines guidelines for determining when criminal liability should apply to EMS clinicians for alleged deviations from clinical standards of care. It stresses that:

EMS clinicians should be held accountable within a just culture, which emphasizes organizational systems that contribute to errors.

Criminal liability for medical errors should be carefully considered, as it can deter EMS professionals from reporting errors, potentially worsening patient safety.

The statement proposes a four-part inquiry to evaluate whether criminal charges are appropriate:

• Was the action within the EMS clinician's duties?
• Did the action involve a deviation from clinical standards?
• Was it intentional or grossly negligent?
• Will criminal liability serve justice?

The statement also highlights concerns about the impact of criminal liability on EMS recruitment and retention, especially during a workforce crisis, and advocates for non-criminal forms of accountability such as civil or administrative actions for medical errors.