Uvalde County EMS: HB 3000 funds start to flow, HHSC raises ambulance base rates; service adds vehicles and invests in paramedic training

Stephen Stevens, Uvalde County's EMS director, told the Commissioners Court on May 20 that state funding from HB 3000 has begun to be released and that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission approved increases to ambulance base rates, supplies and mileage.

Stevens said the increases are the first substantive rate adjustments in about 15 years and provide a much-needed revenue boost. He reported roughly 5,243 charts (calls/patient-care records) in the prior year, noted April produced 632 charts and said the service is on pace for nearly 700 charts in the current month. The department has added a daytime peak ambulance and a field truck and is studying time-of-day patterns to allocate resources.

On capital spending, Stevens said the service purchased an ambulance last year for about $249,000 (noting total capital expenditures near $260,000) and expects delivery of an ordered ambulance in June and another in October. He said the service is considering permanently licensing additional vehicles to increase resilience. Stevens also reported spending about $85,000 last year to send eight of nine current staff through paramedic school; eight have passed and about 70% of those trained live locally.

Stevens told the court the service has been able to minimize mutual-aid requests (four times in the last 12 months) and that state reimbursements for assistance during disasters have been helpful. He also said the service wrote off approximately $1.25 million to $1.3 million in uncollected revenue last year due to denials and slow payer processes, but that collection efforts are exhausted before write-offs.

Commissioners did not object to the report and approved acceptance of the annual EMS report by voice vote.

Key figures from the presentation

- Prior-year charts/records: ~5,243.
- April charts: 632; May projected near 700.
- Ambulance purchase last year: roughly $249,000; capital outlay near $260,000.
- Paramedic-training investment: ~$85,000 for eight staff who passed licensure.
- Prior-year write-offs: approximately $1.25M$1.3M in unrecovered charges.

Stevens said he will continue to monitor HB 3000 disbursements, pursue reimbursement opportunities and report back as needed.

Source: Uvalde County Commissioners Court public proceedings, May 20, 2026.