EMS Providers Visiting Members of Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C. – More than 200 EMS personnel are on the Hill today lobbying for legislation they say is vital.
Among the issues providers will be promoting include Medicare reimbursement for ambulance crews, PSOB for non-governmental EMS personnel and the Field EMS Bill that addresses a myriad of topics including problems outlined in the 2006 Institute of Medicine report.
The third annual EMS on the Hill Day – sponsored by NAEMT – has EMS crews from 42 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.
“EMS is a team sport,” NAEMT Advocacy Committee chairman Jim Judge said during an opening reception Tuesday night.
Judge said it’s important for people to contact their elected representatives to get valuable legislation moving. “These bills make EMS better…”
Crimson Consulting scheduled the visits with the members of Congress. As of Tuesday night, 246 meetings had been set.
While many are back for their third time, for others, it’s their first.
Putnam County, Ill. EMS Chief Andrew Jackson said he was looking forward to his first trip to Congress.
“I think it’s very important,” he said, adding that he had reviewed the talking points for the various issues. “It’s good to see this many people here, but we should get more…”
Jules Scadden, NAEMT Advocacy Committee, said she’s encouraged by the attendance. The first year the group was especially pleased when about 120 showed up for the first legislative event. They had hoped to attract 50 to 80.
“I’ve seen a difference. Our first year, we met mainly with staffers. We explained what EMS was all about…”
Scadden said the legislation being promoted is “very important to the in the street practioners.”
“We have a strong voice now, and we need to keep the momentum going.”
