Associated Press
HELENA, Mont. — A 2016 ballot initiative proposal has been submitted that would allow emergency medical technicians to be licensed to provide basic health-care services to Montana military veterans.
Helena resident Ed Lesofski filed the proposal Oct. 25 with the Secretary of State’s office. It must pass a legal review before the sponsor is allowed to gather signatures.
Lesofski says in his proposal that veterans’ basic physical and mental health needs are not being met.
Lesofski says EMTs could provide those services with additional training. His proposal calls for a test for EMTs to be licensed as community veteran emergency medical technicians under the direction of a doctor or physician’s assistant.
Among their duties, they would be able to conduct health assessments, suicide interventions, mental health support, chronic disease monitoring, nutritional education, palliative care and even acupuncture.