IL HB3048

Removes the requirement that ambulance and EMS agencies be "privately held" to qualify as "Qualifying Ground Ambulance Service Providers" under Illinois medical assistance programs, allowing nonprofit organizations to also qualify.

Establishes a Premium Pay Initiative providing up to $13 per hour in additional compensation for eligible ambulance workers, capped at $25,000 per worker for the duration of the program.

Creates a COVID-19 Response Support Initiative to reimburse qualifying ambulance providers for eligible expenses incurred between May 1, 2022 and June 30, 2024, including costs for vaccination programs, testing, protective equipment, and emergency medical equipment.

Authorizes an Ambulance Industry Recovery Grant Program if the ambulance services industry is designated as "impacted" under federal guidance, to provide aid to providers that experienced staffing losses from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Allocates federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to ambulance service providers based on their proportion of licensed ground ambulance vehicles statewide, with initial awards distributed by February 28, 2023 and unobligated funds reallocated after March 31, 2024.