The patients typically are confined to their beds and can't be moved in a wheelchair, so they need the service that ambulances and emergency medical technicians can offer.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is now seven months into a pilot program designed to weed out fraud in ambulance service for nonemergencies.

The agency -- and some transportation companies -- say tougher compliance is doing the trick and saving taxpayers money. But other operators say it is going overboard and putting patients' lives at risk.

What's all the fuss about?  States with the biggest increase in nonemergency ambulance trips, 2002-2011:

1. California: +554 percent

2. Georgia: +301 percent

3. South Carolina: +218 percent

4. Indiana: +183 percent

5. Pennsylvania: +159 percent

6. New Jersey: +144 percent

U.S.: +94 percent

>> Read more

Rep. Novak explains, "The residents of Gratiot and South Wayne are obviously very concerned over the thought that it might take up to 30 minutes for a Wisconsin ambulance to arrive at their home."

At present, an Illinois ambulance can no longer cross the stateline, because its volunteer staff doesn't possess a certificate that Wisconsin requires.

In his testimony today, Novak explains the National Registry Certificate has nothing to do with the quality of service, it simply makes it easier for agencies to cross state lines. Illinois doesn't require it. Novak's bill looks to make an exemption for out-of-state ambulance services that make 10 or less transports per year in Wisconsin.

Novak says, "Warren, Illinois, will only be dispatched in emergency situations. And I believe between DHS and the sheriff, we'll be able to keep track of when Warren will be dispatched out."

>> Click for video news story.

Community paramedicine is all the buzz in Wisconsin EMS right now.  We are learning a lot from our EMS friends in Minnesota, Texas, and elsewhere.  On May 25, Nevada became the newest state to pass CP legislation. 

Minnesota is years ahead of Wisconsin in developing community CP programs, legislation, curriculum, training, and licensing personnel.  Minnesota has extended to Wisconsin their assistance, so we can shorten the learning curve, get caught up, and use best practices they've already vetted as successful.  As we've previously reported, out of 1,000 community paramedics trained in the United States right now, Minnesota's Hennepin Technical College has trained 600 of them.

This past week we have fielded a lot of questions about CP and ways for those interested to get involved.  Here's my top six suggestions:

1. Sign up for the Rural Health CP list serve.  The link is https://lists.wisc.edu/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=cp.  I believe there are over 150 signed up to get information on CP.

2. PAAW created a webpage dedicated to serve as a central point of communication and information for those interested in CP.  The link is http://paaw.us/cp.

3. We've done several interviews on CP.  The two most recent are at these locations by two people leading CP in Minnesota and nationally.
a. Buck McAlpin from Minnesota (click here for audio interview)
b. Gary Wingrove from Mayo Clinic (click here for audio interview)

4.  The Paramedic Systems of Wisconsin conference in Green Bay on Thursday, Sept. 24 will include Minnesota's Buck McAlpin as a presenter speaking on CP.  PAAW is sponsoring his presentation.  The conference website is http://psow.org/.  The conference schedule will be announced sometime in July or early August.

5. PAAW President Patrick Ryan hosts every other Friday a CP conference call.  The next call is Friday, June 5 starting at 9:00 a.m.  The call in number is 646-929-1081.  The calls are also recorded and posted at the website noted above as item 2.  There have been 35 to 40 participants on a regular basis the past few months.  To be added to the call reminder list, contact Patrick at email president@paaw.us.

6. Wisconsin CP legislation in is draft form largely being discussed and driven by the group noted above as item 5.

Accept this posting as your invitation to join the CP conversation.

Our guests include Drug Enforcement Agency Wisconsin Supervisor Kathy Federico, Wisconsin Ambulance Inspector Paul Schilling, and Baraboo District Ambulance Chief Dana Sechler and Deputy Chief John Rago.

Join co-hosts Chris Anderson, Joe Covelli, Patrick Ryan and Dan Williams for the conversation.

The episode is scheduled to run 60 minutes.  As always your questions and emails will be taken during the live show.  Should you miss it each show is recorded, so just look in the archive.

There are about 1,000 paramedics in the United States now that have completed a Community Paramedic curriculum, roughly 600 of them trained by Hennepin Technical College in Minneapolis.  Many of their distance learning CP classes are full with students from the US and abroad.

>> Click to listen to the audio webcast with Gary Wingrove.

Each person nominated is presented with Wisconsin Stars of Life honors!

Take this opportunity to reward and celebrate an employee, volunteer, or community citizen who exemplifies the everyday spirit and commitment of a Star of Life.

You do not need to be a member of PAAW to submit a nomination application.  All nominations are welcome.

One person from the group of 2015 honorees will be selected and advance to represent Wisconsin.  This individual will be recognized at the National Stars of Life program in Washington, D.C., April 11 to 13, 2016.  PAAW will provide a $750 travel voucher, and the American Ambulance Association Foundation will provide a grant for hotel and event registration fees for the Star, Star's guest, and host (employer).

The Professional Ambulance Association of Wisconsin's Stars of Life celebration is the most rewarding and exciting Wisconsin event in our field and is modeled after the American Ambulance Association's national Stars program.

The 2015 event will be the ninth time PAAW has proudly presented the Wisconsin Stars of Life program.  This special event recognizes and honors the dedication of ambulance service professionals - people that stand out in every area of our field.  You choose your "Star." These are the people who will be recognized in a series of celebratory events.

The schedule of events includes a welcome reception at Green Bay Packers Lambeau Field Atrium and dinner and awards program during the Paramedic Systems of Wisconsin (PSOW) conference.  In addition, Stars gather at the State Capitol for a one-day event in Madison in October/November 2015 to be recognized before the senate and assembly, and to meet their local elected leaders for one-on-one meetings.

To nominate someone deserving of this high honor, just download the registration packet.  Each person nominated is presented Wisconsin Stars of Life honors.  The deadline to submit is August 1, 2015.

>> Click for Stars of Life 2015 webpage.

>> Click for schedule of events.

>> Click for Stars of Life 2015 nomination application.

Both EMTs okay and no body was injured in the recent incident. 

>> Click to watch WISN-TV Milwaukee news story.

>> Click to listen to this episode or go to http://tobtr.com/7581379

The May 12 Wisconsin EMS Live show discussed HIPAA laws, breach of HIPAA (patient) protected information, and use of social media by employees.

Our guest attorney Scott LeBlanc with Godfrey & Kahn in Milwaukee covers these HIPAA topics and more.  >> Click to listen to this episode or go to http://tobtr.com/7581379

Also meet new nationally featured writer and critical care paramedic from La Crosse Crystal Wallin.  Crystal's writings are also featured in her new blog, "Standby for Tones", on the PAAW website.  Read them by clicking here.

>> Non Emergency Medical Transportation (full report)

>> Briefing sheet

If you were ever in an accident, you'd expect the closest first responders would be the ones to help you. But that's not the case in certain parts of southern Wisconsin. There's an area where the wait time for an ambulance has jumped from five minutes to nearly 30 and it's all because of a state regulation.

>> Click for more information and news video.