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Panel: Add Extra Pilot, Medic To Medevac Missions
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All 14 members agreed the medical helicopter system should stay under the control of Maryland State Police.
The decision is what hundreds of emergency responders who rallied in front of the State House just days ago wanted.
"Why would we change a service that is already the best in the world?" asked one supporter.
The panel did recommend some changes to improve the fleet. One recommendation would be for the Medevac system to follow stricter regulations from the federal government.
Lawmakers are also recommending an additional pilot and paramedic be added to each flight. They also want to see the number of helicopters in the fleet be reduced from 12 to 10. The panel agreed the aging helicopters need to be replaced.
It's a costly undertaking. Senator E.J. Pipkin supported legislation that allowed a private company to run the transport fleet.
"If you need a helicopter today, you get it. Under our bills, you still get it," said Senator Pipkin.
A Senate hearing on Pipkin's proposal is scheduled for Wednesday.
But the House panel wants to see the timeline for those improvements done quickly, saying replacing the fleet sooner rather than later would save on maintenance fees.
The House panel was convened in February as the General Assembly examines ways to improve the state's Medevac system following a fatal crash that killed four people in September.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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