Kentucky awarded Med Center Health a $310,070 grant to expand its community paramedicine program. The funding, part of the state’s Rural Health Transformation Plan, will help reduce preventable hospital readmissions and unnecessary emergency department visits by allowing paramedics to conduct follow-up care after patients are discharged.
Jon Henbest, a community paramedic with the health system, said the program sets a higher standard for at-home care. “We help bridge the gap in care after patients leave the hospital by providing personalized support in their homes,” he explained.
How community paramedics fill gaps in rural healthcare
States across the U.S. are turning to emergency medical services personnel to deliver preventive care in rural areas. These programs enable paramedics to visit patients at home, performing disease-specific assessments, managing chronic conditions, reconciling medications, and evaluating fall risks—tasks typically handled in clinics or hospitals.
In Arkansas, a $10 million grant will fund the EMS Coordinated Network for Emergency Navigation, Community Care and Telehealth. The initiative will replace some ambulances with telehealth-equipped vehicles, adding patient-monitoring tools and data-sharing capabilities. Training for EMS providers will also be included. Another component will establish emergency teleconsultation and triage systems for rural hospitals and EMS agencies.
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The shift reflects broader changes in rural healthcare delivery. Instead of transporting every patient to an emergency department, paramedics can now determine whether on-site treatment or a referral to a primary care provider is more suitable.
Alabama’s treat-in-place pilot aims to keep ambulances available
Alabama is launching a five-year, $25 million pilot program to test a “treat-in-place” model for EMS providers. The initiative addresses a persistent problem in rural areas where ambulances are frequently tied up transporting patients who don’t require emergency department care, leaving fewer units available for critical situations.
State officials note that unnecessary transports also increase turnaround times, as crews wait at hospitals to transfer patients. The treat-in-place model would allow paramedics to assess and treat patients on-site, then bill for those services. The change is expected to lower transportation costs, ease emergency department overcrowding, and generate new revenue for EMS agencies while keeping ambulances in their communities.
“These situations reduce overall ambulance availability for true emergencies,” the state’s plan states. The issue is especially pressing in rural areas, where fewer ambulances are already stretched thin.
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North Carolina invests in mobile integrated health for substance use disorders
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is distributing $10 million to 39 local EMS agencies to expand Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) and Community Paramedicine (CP) programs. The funding will help agencies support residents with substance use disorders beyond the initial 911 call, aiming to reduce emergency department visits linked to mental health crises and opioid overdoses.
While community paramedicine relies solely on EMS personnel, MIH incorporates a broader range of providers, including nurses and social workers.
The programs in Kentucky, Alabama, and North Carolina share a key insight: rural healthcare cannot depend solely on hospitals and clinics. By expanding the role of paramedics, states aim to improve outcomes, cut costs, and ensure ambulances remain available for true emergencies. These efforts build on existing healthcare strategies that prioritize accessibility and preventive care.