[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6394111,"mediaKeyId","2104166-2d49ddee0a74ac598bfb3ebf91607a72","parentId",2104166,"title","Panel advances 'distressed ambulance' program to address rural EMS closures, refers funding to appropriations","audioSeconds",5214,"startMs",3826000,"endMs",9040000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2104166-2d49ddee0a74ac598bfb3ebf91607a72&start=3826&end=9040","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2104166-2d49ddee0a74ac598bfb3ebf91607a72/thumbnail_3826000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6394111/North-Dakota/Panel-advances-distressed-ambulance-program-to-address-rural-EMS-closures-refers-funding-to-appropriations","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6394111-1493684eca1149dd97eb5080d00486d9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771215158&Signature=n6kVtaI80s3E0fy406cUwl9LfBwKuJMGM0u-6eK7KAqHSkzGfIHgfw62vD5hcPvkXHHcWyYt63ZO98duuIpc4p~J5tLKHNfCBoJoLNXyAwHRMHkjPFIsXb0X905SYYX5A2uKkFrt6vOf9OMjl~iMDaEX6v0wYJP6MM47M1hGWjIgJw08h8CMg8ug95TgiPQbXIVlfYSuUUTRrFbRamlhR1cPPHDhANLMXsEvW3-tHmLMJAz48tS8s-fuQb1msOq~JPka9tA3pH3EFfntH7uE3fpPLH9lVuf5dlJ68rnlYh4EHC-yw277lor9SWxjO8W8~zyu748bv0XtoFp2Ow3y9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","State of North Dakota","date","2025-01-08T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Human Services Committee voted 5–1 to advance Senate Bill 2033, legislation that would create a Distressed Ambulance Service Program to identify ambulance services at risk of failing and help develop plans to maintain emergency medical services in affected areas.

Senator Kristen Rohrs introduced the measure as a product of interim work on ambulance sustainability. Adam Parker, advocacy chair for the North Dakota EMS Association, described the drivers behind the bill: volunteer shortages, rising costs to staff ambulances, and the strain on neighboring services when one provider fails. \"The level of service that you get is directly related to the cost that the public has to provide to support,\" Parker told the committee, summarizing the tradeoffs communities face between staffing costs and response expectations.

Witnesses presented a detailed operational model for the proposed program. The bill would allow the Department of Health and Human Services to identify ambulance services that are out of compliance, have indicated an intention to cease operations within a short period, or otherwise show a substantial likelihood of failing to respond to calls. After notice, a licensee would have time to submit a corrective action plan (45 days unless imminent closure), the department would appoint a coordinator for declared distressed services, and the coordinator would develop a proposed EMS plan and convene public meetings. If parties cannot agree on a sustainable plan, the department could take additional actions — up to and including license revocation in extreme cases — and may require reimbursement to the department for reasonable costs incurred in ensuring response.

Chris Price from the Department of Health and Human Services said the program is intended to be proactive rather than purely punitive and recommended additional administrative support to implement the program. The hearing record includes a fiscal estimate given early in the hearing: $209,842 from the general fund for the current biennium and $218,180 for the next biennium (fiscal note presented with the bill).

Committee discussion emphasized the program’s role as a backstop when local coordination fails. Representative Robin Weisz and others testified in support, describing sudden closures or local conflicts that had left communities without reliable coverage. Committee members pushed back on creating excessive state bureaucracy; supporters said the program is targeted to intervene only when local planning and statutory remedies have been exhausted.

Senator Kathy Hogan moved a do-pass recommendation with re-referral to the Appropriations Committee; Senator Rohrs seconded. The committee roll call was: Senator Judy Lee — aye; Senator Kent Weston — aye; Senator Kristen Rohrs — aye; Senator Kathy Hogan — aye; Senator Van Oosting — aye; Senator Dave Clemens — nay. The motion passed 5–1; SB 2033 will go to Appropriations for consideration of funding and administrative resources.

Lawmakers and witnesses said the bill is intended to preserve access to emergency medical services by encouraging local planning, allowing temporary waivers, and creating a state-coordinated response when necessary.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Human Services Jan 8, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Human Services Committee voted 5–1 to advance a bill creating a Distressed Ambulance Service Program that would identify struggling ambulance services, require corrective action plans, and allow state coordination when local responses fail.","taxTitle","Human Services, Senate, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28905,"location","North Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6394116,"Committee approves bill letting genetic counselors order tests, updates exam window",954,1748000,2702000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2104166-2d49ddee0a74ac598bfb3ebf91607a72&start=1748&end=2702","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2104166-2d49ddee0a74ac598bfb3ebf91607a72/thumbnail_1748000.jpg","/articles/6394116/North-Dakota/Committee-approves-bill-letting-genetic-counselors-order-tests-updates-exam-window","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6394116-8008b16323b8177bdc3b609cd8a791a8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771215158&Signature=G9-Z8NfU7hW2QFSeymo9U3wTnJp6xcn2hLGorUXSQY98a9yhHP~qeGsmue6vNuNTCfSW~Xi3E7wV86W1Ns0XR869enmrMQA2-o25VZXu8AvB4Xc7qq-Hx8ipZspHPCms8vnvEaZPjWpyxUO76UKyVB23hniZyTZryfCEiOmSa6DHYDKlkmbtV0AVOfcdMXCEiP0h2dX~LHTVChpNHJOzC8mLvaSYy9HOYgYM64YqtwiplIwkagkYpyoMNzmXBgeNKfWhA6SiqlQ89WCKfWlfNHkYezwkn2ZiSIfMQuxDiDxnfEY9oOJKpN3q3TkZILfiARu-HDFw8K7i~6aPJ2mtUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Human Services Committee members voted unanimously to advance Senate Bill 2040, a measure that would allow licensed genetic counselors to order genetic testing directly and update examination-time limits used for licensure.

The bill’s sponsor, Sandra DuPuntis, executive director of the North Dakota Board of Medicine, told the committee that SB 2040 has two short sections: it would remove a requirement that genetic test orders be routed through another health-care provider and it would adjust the licensure exam timeframe to match changes from the American Board of Genetic Counselors (ABGC). \"A pretty simple bill. There's only 2 sections,\" DuPuntis said during her introduction.

Supporters said the change aims to reduce delays for patients and providers. Linda Wolf, a licensed genetic counselor who testified alongside DuPuntis, described how counseling works in practice and why the bill would streamline care: \"What genetic counselors do, we basically work with the families as kind of the intermediary between the ordering physicians or the referring physicians, trying to figure out what testing is appropriate.\" Wolf told the committee that physicians welcome the support because they cannot keep up with the rapid technical changes in genetic testing.

DuPuntis told lawmakers that 33 states license genetic counselors and 11 allow independent ordering by the counselors themselves; SB 2040 would align North Dakota with neighboring states that have granted that authority. The bill also updates the state rules to reflect the ABGC’s decision to extend the window for taking its certification exam from four to five years and retains a three-exam limit while recognizing documented disabilities as a basis for exceptions.

Committee members asked about geographic access to genetic expertise; witnesses said the state has very few medical geneticists (witnesses identified a medical geneticist located in Fargo) and that independent ordering by counselors would help patients who live far from specialists. The committee did not receive opposition testimony.

Senator Kathy Hogan moved adoption of SB 2040; Senator Kent Weston seconded. The committee recorded the following roll call: Senator Dave Clemens — yes; Senator Kathy Hogan — yes; Senator Judy Lee (chair) — yes; Senator Kristen Rohrs — yes; Senator Van Oosting — yes; Senator Kent Weston — yes. The motion passed unanimously and SB 2040 will move to the full Senate for floor consideration. Senator Hogan volunteered to carry the bill on the floor.

If enacted, the measure would formally allow genetic counselors to order tests and adjust the state licensure rules to reflect current national exam timetables; the statutory changes and any budget implications will be handled in later floor and committee steps.","The Senate Human Services Committee voted unanimously to approve Senate Bill 2040, which would allow licensed genetic counselors in North Dakota to order genetic tests directly and bring state exam rules in line with national standards.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6394107,"Committee advances change to mental-health professional tiers; adds certified peer specialists",745,7208000,7953000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2104166-2d49ddee0a74ac598bfb3ebf91607a72&start=7208&end=7953","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2104166-2d49ddee0a74ac598bfb3ebf91607a72/thumbnail_7208000.jpg","/articles/6394107/North-Dakota/Committee-advances-change-to-mental-health-professional-tiers-adds-certified-peer-specialists","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6394107-f51684e398b29f34cc1dd8defbd7a0a4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771215158&Signature=XF6ubdwcWAfCuUm2WhunnG4NQ2Qw1Or80Ya8Yh5NAMt7znl6tRI33Gl5KuGQOAtaEHzFBcmBfxo4ZYjEYxeauatbyM94MjehyqjcfpFNe62fxai24VTEyMdLLxrzsUHMQmyzMZ21BhUsx0a-wpuFOPWmbW9~tovtgEzANf3AFSqrYVPsXQcjazyNozQHY1MUpBwucq8~ZOHK58pxIIhQR6jJ0ux-mAeW58-FE-wUiwsAS4pwgsQgiupBulH25xD3fF3~LP7zKnApWbYIWeaj18i1J360N7cMsP4jBANqzUrgnoFXRX-PcGpyZZYiOd3cXjxR9YIupD49lZ0AVWDCJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Human Services Committee unanimously advanced Senate Bill 2079, a department-request measure that would change how certain behavioral-health workers are classified under state law and recognize certified peer support specialists in statute.

Dr. Shawna Eberhardt of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Behavioral Health Division briefed the committee on the proposal. The change would move licensed professional counselors (LPCs) from tier 3 to tier 2 in section 25-01-01 of the North Dakota Century Code and add certified peer support specialists as a tier 4 mental-health professional. \"The requested change would move licensed professional counselors to a tier 2 status,\" Eberhardt told the committee, adding that the department seeks flexibility in assigning tasks such as investigation and evaluation of petitions under the relevant statutory sections.

Eberhardt explained the licensure distinction: a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) must complete an additional 3,000 clinical hours and a national exam beyond the requirements for LPC; LPCs have completed two years of direct clinical experience under supervision and can practice independently in North Dakota. Committee members asked about workforce numbers; Eberhardt said she did not have exact counts available in the hearing but would provide data on the number of licensees.

Written testimony from Nexus Path Family Healing stressed the workforce shortage among children's behavioral-health providers and supported the change as a way to increase the available workforce. A Nexus Path representative noted alarming youth mental-health statistics and said the proposed definition change could improve access to services statewide.

Senator Kristen Rohrs moved that the committee recommend a do-pass on SB 2079; the motion was seconded and the roll call recorded all ayes. The committee’s vote will move the bill to the full Senate for further consideration.

Supporters said the change is intended to expand workforce flexibility without replacing higher-level clinical roles, and the addition of certified peer support specialists formally recognizes a credentialed role that complements clinical services.","Senate Bill 2079, introduced by the Department of Health and Human Services, would move licensed professional counselors to a higher-tier classification for certain duties and add certified peer support specialists as a defined tier. The Human Services Committee voted unanimously to advance the bill.","actionData","errors"]

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Panel advances 'distressed ambulance' program to address rural EMS closures, refers funding to appropriations

Committee approves bill letting genetic counselors order tests, updates exam window

Committee advances change to mental-health professional tiers; adds certified peer specialists