But after he pointed out coverage guidelines on the state’s website, Walls said the state’s tune changed. It wasn’t a typical call for paramedics, who usually deal with emergency medical situations. But it’s part of the norm for community paramedics, a specialized type of paramedic or EMT that helps people manage chronic conditions in the hopes of preventing future hospitalizations — and even bigger bills. And he hopes it can be a critical infusion to Idaho’s EMS system, which is experiencing a shortage amid funding struggles. Some also see promise in expanding community paramedics in a largely rural state that has long had a doctors’ shortage.