EMS Personnel Descend on Capitol Hill

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The damp, dreary weather here today won't dampen the spirits of 145 EMS personnel as they descend on Capitol Hill to promote their legislative agenda.

Those participating in the second annual EMS on the Hill Day hail from 39 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.

"There have been more than 200 visits (with legislators) planned on the Hill. They will be meeting with their individual representatives or their staff," explained Pam Lane, executive director of National Association of EMTs (NAEMT).

The three issues that personnel are pushing for are expanding PSOB benefits to non-governmental paramedics and EMTs; allocation of D-Block spectrum for public safety and funding of the build-out of the network; and passage of the Medicare Ambulance Access Preservation Act.

Lane said it's important for responders to know that they don't have to make the annual trek to be involved in promoting legislation. "We provide a lot of information about the bills on our website so people can participate. It's important that legislators get our message about our concerns."

NAEMT President Connie Meyer said the group chose to focus on the three issues because they have already been introduced.

As for the expansion of PSOB, Meyer said she feels the families of providers who die while serving their communities should be helped financially. The Dale Long Emergency Medical Service Providers Protection Act, introduced by Sen. Patrick Leahy, would make survivors of medics and EMTs employed by non-governmental, non-profit agencies eligible for PSOB funds administered by the Department of Justice.

Right now, only providers employed by federal, state or local agencies are eligible. However, an exception was made for the families of five EMS providers killed in the collapse of the World Trade Center. They were employed by for-profit and non-profit agencies. Funding for PSOB comes from asset forfeitures.

Meyer also spoke of the importance of the Medicare reimbursement measure, saying many departments are suffering financially. She noted that a Government Accountability Office report in 2007 stated: "Ambulance providers are paid on average 6 percent below cost and 17 percent below cost in remote or "super rural" areas." EMS providers are asking for a 6 percent increase for ambulance transports originating in urban or rural areas as well as extending the bonus payment for trips in super rural areas.

During their meetings with representatives, providers were encouraged to share the cost of equipment and other expenses associated with transporting Medicare patients. They also are promoting a measure to allocate D-Block Broadband to Public Safety. Allocating it will "allow for a nationwide interoperable broadband network on a contiguous 20-MHz of spectrum swath," NAEMT officials said. They said D-Block is the only spectrum "truly capable of meeting public safety's needs."