Senator Collins Announces Nearly $800,000 for Emergency Medical Services in Maine
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that four emergency medical service departments will receive a total of $793,953 through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs (SIREN) grant program, which was established by a bill authored by Senator Collins.
This week, Senator Collins announced that her bipartisan SIREN Reauthorization Act, which she co-authored with Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), was passed by the House of Representatives and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law. Once signed, that legislation will extend funding through fiscal year 2028 for SIREN Act grants to rural fire and EMS agencies nationwide. This grant program from SAMHSA supports rural EMS agencies in training and recruiting staff, conducting certification courses, and purchasing equipment, including naloxone to address the opioid overdose epidemic.
“Mainers in every part of our state should be able to receive the vital medical services they need,” said Senator Collins. “These investments in EMS services for agencies servicing Maine’s rural population will help to improve the quality and accessibility of health care across our state by purchasing much needed ambulance and equipment upgrades.”
The funding is allocated as follows:
- Brooks Ambulance Service - $200,000 to improve EMS training for Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians and paramedics.
- MaineHealth - $200,000 to expand EMS recruitment, training and retention in Franklin County.
- Northern Oxford Regional Ambulance Service - $200,000 to expand emergency care services for patients experiencing mental health and substance use disorder related emergencies.
- United Ambulance Service - $193,953 to improve rural EMS training.
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