Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) and Community Paramedicine (CP) programs are redefining how emergency medical services care for their communities. While these initiatives are increasingly recognized for reducing 911 overuse and improving patient outcomes, a persistent challenge remains: how to measure their impact in a way that drives policy change and sustainable funding.
That’s about to change.
But before diving into why standardized data matters, it’s helpful to clarify what these terms mean, especially since they’re often used interchangeably.
What’s the Difference Between MIH, CP, and Community Health?
Though closely related and overlapping at times, MIH, CP, and Community Health aren’t identical, and those differences matter when it comes to data and funding:
- Community Paramedicine (CP) typically refers to programs where specially trained paramedics provide non-emergency care to underserved or high-risk populations. These programs often focus on chronic disease management, frequent 911 callers, or post-discharge follow-up.
- Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) is a broader umbrella term. It includes CP programs but can also involve nurses, social workers, or other clinicians. MIH emphasizes a team-based, whole-person care model that extends beyond EMS and supports integration with hospitals, behavioral health, and social services.
- Community Health, as used by ImageTrend, aligns with both MIH and CP goals, but specifically refers to programs that use data and technology to manage care plans, reduce emergency overuse, and improve health outcomes at the local level.
In practice, many agencies use these terms interchangeably depending on their structure, staffing, and goals. In this blog, we’ll use “MIH” to refer broadly to these types of programs.
The Push for National MIH Standards
Until now, MIH programs have largely operated in silos, each collecting different data points, using varied workflows, and defining success in different ways. This has made it difficult to compare programs, aggregate outcomes, or demonstrate value to policymakers and payers.
Recognizing this gap, the National Emergency Medical Services Information System (NEMSIS) is preparing to release a standardized national MIH dataset. As discussed in the May 2024 NEMSIS Advisory Board Meeting, this dataset aims to bring uniformity to how MIH and CP programs are documented across the U.S., enabling consistent measurement, benchmarking, and storytelling. ImageTrend is contributing to these efforts as part of the NEMSIS MIH dataset workgroup, helping ensure the framework supports agencies of all sizes.
This move is a major step forward. By aligning MIH data under a shared framework, agencies will be better equipped to advocate for their programs and unlock future funding opportunities.
Advancing EMS Reimbursement Reform Through Value-Based MIH Care
Standardized data isn’t just about internal metrics; it’s a critical stepping stone toward more sustainable EMS reimbursement and a key enabler of value-based care models that reward outcomes over transport volume.
Today, most EMS agencies can only bill for services if they transport a patient to the hospital, even when that trip may be unnecessary, costly, or unwanted. Many MIH programs are proving that there’s a better way—treating patients in place, connecting them to community resources, or transporting them to lower-acuity settings like urgent care. Patients are often grateful to avoid an unnecessary emergency department (ED) visit, and hospitals benefit as well, with fewer low-acuity cases contributing to ED overcrowding.
But there’s a catch: if EMS doesn’t transport, they often don’t get paid.
This is the fundamental barrier that reimbursement reform efforts are trying to address. One promising example was the Emergency Triage, Treat, and Transport (ET3) Model, piloted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Launched in 2020, ET3 allowed participating EMS agencies to be reimbursed for providing treatment on-scene or transporting to alternative destinations, shifting the focus from transport to appropriate care.
Although the model ended in December 2023, its lessons still resonate. According to the ET3 Final Evaluation Report (2025), the program faced participation challenges but showed potential for improving care coordination and patient satisfaction.
A standardized national MIH dataset could help accelerate value-based care by giving agencies the evidence they need to demonstrate how treating patients proactively reduces strain on EMS systems, frees up resources for high-acuity calls, and improves outcomes where every second matters. With consistent, high-quality data captured across programs, agencies can build trust with payers, support reimbursement reform, and advocate for policies that prioritize appropriate care over transport alone.
MIH Real-World Programs Are Already Showing the Way
Though the national dataset is still in development, many MIH and Community Health programs are already achieving measurable success, and they’re doing it with tools that enable smart documentation and real-time coordination.
- Clayton County, Georgia, used ImageTrend’s platform to scale its program, reduce repeat 911 calls, and improve continuity of care through embedded social workers and tailored care plans. View the Case Study ›
- West Allis Fire Department streamlined referrals, connected with local hospitals, and created a more proactive community safety net through its Community Risk Reduction program. Explore Their Results ›
These agencies demonstrate what’s possible when the right tools and partnerships are in place—and why aligning program data to national standards could accelerate this momentum across the country.
Getting Ready for What’s Next
The initial MIH dataset will be presented by NEMSIS at their developer conference in August 2025, with rollout expected in early 2026. ImageTrend is following the progress of the MIH dataset closely, with the goal of supporting agencies as national standards take shape.
For agencies, now is the time to prepare:
- Evaluate how your current program tracks outcomes.
- Identify gaps that might limit future reporting or reimbursement.
- Partner with vendors like ImageTrend who are invested in aligning with national standards and supporting MIH at scale.
What Standardization Could Unlock
Standardizing MIH data isn’t just a tech upgrade; it’s a foundational shift that could open doors to policy change, sustainable funding, and a stronger EMS system. Agencies that prepare now will be best positioned to lead the next era of community-centered care.
Want to learn more?
Watch our recent webinar: How to Build an Effective Community Program ›
Or explore our Community Health module ›
