The Arkansas Revenue Investment in Vital EMS Systems (ARRIVES) Act, recently signed into law by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, is designed to enhance ambulance services throughout the state.
This legislation establishes a fund managed by the Department of Health to distribute resources to emergency medical services (EMS) agencies.
The focus of the ARRIVES Act is to support the conversion of Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances to Advanced Life Support (ALS) status, which requires equipping ambulances with a paramedic capable of administering medication and providing advanced care. The funding is exclusively for established services that offer ALS around the clock, and volunteer services are not eligible.
The distribution of funds is determined by the population size of the county served by the ambulance service, with allocations made as a percentage of the total fund.
This initiative aims to improve the quality and availability of advanced emergency medical care across Arkansas.
