By Courtney Hessler, The Herald-Dispatch
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Members of the West Virginia Legislature met Sunday to discuss innovative ways being used to help relieve a drastic shortage of EMT and paramedic employees in the state.
Because this month’s interim legislative meetings are being held at West Virginia University in Morgantown, the Joint Committee on Volunteer Fire Department and EMS heard from leaders with the Monongalia County EMS and local technical school about the issues they face and how to address them.
Forest Weyen, executive director of Monongalia County EMS, said more collaboration beyond county lines is needed. He also said increasing funding for PEIA to reimburse for EMS services would help. Currently, EMS agencies only get reimbursed if they take someone somewhere, but little to no funding for calls that don’t require a hospital transport, such as drug overdoses and mental health calls…