Emergency Medical Services Grant Program

(a)

Emergency Medical Services Grant Program

(1)

In general

The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall establish a program, to be known as the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Grant Program (in this section referred to as the Program), through which the Secretary shall award grants on a competitive basis to EMS organizations. (2)

Eligibility

To be eligible for a grant under the Program, an EMS organization shall submit to the Secretary of Health and Human Services an application at such a time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including the following: (A)A description of the financial need of the EMS organization. (B)An analysis of the costs and benefits, with respect to improving medical transport and emergency medical services, of the activities to be carried out through the grant. (3)

Joint applications

An EMS organization may submit a joint application with one or more other EMS organizations under this subsection. (4)

Peer review of grant applications

The Secretary of Health and Human Services, after consultation with national EMS organizations, shall appoint representatives of volunteer, municipal, for-profit, and nonprofit EMS organizations and entities to conduct peer review of applications. (5)

Prioritization of grant awards

In awarding grants under the Program the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall consider each of the following: (A)The findings and recommendations of the peer reviews carried out under paragraph (4). (B)The degree to which an award will improve the coverage, response times, and ability of EMS organizations to provide medical transport and emergency medical services. (C)The extent of the need of an applicant for a grant under this subsection and the need to protect the United States as a whole. (D)Whether an EMS organization has previously received Federal funding. (b)

Purposes

Grants made under the Program may be used by recipient EMS organizations for the following purposes: (1)Maintaining, or, if appropriate, increasing, the number of trained front-line EMS responders, including providing salaries and stipends, providing wellness and fitness programs for EMS organization personnel, and covering or reimbursing costs associated with certification and recertification courses. (2)Obtaining resources, including purchasing EMS vehicles, personal protective equipment, uniforms, medicine, and medical supplies. (3)Modifying facilities. (4)Any other activity the Secretary determines appropriate. (c)

Allocation of grant awards

(1)

Limitation

Not more than two percent of grants awarded under the Program may be made available to EMS organizations that operate for profit or to otherwise support efforts to establish or provide emergency medical services, or medical transport, for profit. A grant under the Program to such a for-profit EMS organization (if singly) or to such EMS organizations (if a result of a joint application) or to otherwise so support such efforts shall be in an amount not to exceed $100,000. (2)

Further limitation

A grant under the Program to a not-for-profit EMS organization or a joint application shall be in an amount not to exceed $300,000. (3)

Reservation

Not less than 20 percent of grants awarded under the Program shall be made available to EMS organizations in rural areas. (d)

Metrics

The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall develop metrics to assess the effectiveness of the Program in improving the coverage, response times, and ability of EMS organizations to provide medical transport and emergency medical services. (e)

Claw backs

The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall make every available effort to recover grant funds in case of noncompliance. To carry out this subsection, the Secretary shall establish a process through which notification is conveyed to EMS organizations determined to be in noncompliance, and such organizations are provided an opportunity to respond to such notification prior to the recovery of such funds. (f)

Assessments; reports

Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act and not less frequently than biennially after, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall— (1)conduct an assessment of the Program based on the metrics developed pursuant to subsection (d); and (2)submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report summarizing the findings of the assessment and recommendations to strengthen the overall program. (g)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Health and Human Services— (1)$50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027 to carry out the Program; and (2)$5,000,000 for each of such fiscal years to provide technical assistance to EMS organizations completing and submitting applications. (h)

Definitions

In this section: (1)

EMS organization

The term EMS organization means a nongovernmental or governmental entity that provides medical transport and emergency medical services. (2)

Emergency medical services

The term emergency medical services— (A)means resources used by a licensed entity to deliver medical care outside of a medical facility under emergency conditions that occur as a result of the condition of the patient; and (B)includes services delivered (either on a compensated or volunteer basis) by an emergency medical services provider or other provider that is licensed or certified by the State involved as an emergency medical technician, a paramedic, or an equivalent professional (as determined by the State). (3)

Rural area

The term rural area means— (A)a nonmetropolitan statistical area; (B)an area designated as a rural area by any law or regulation of a State; or (C)a rural census tract of a metropolitan statistical area (as determined under the most recent rural urban commuting area code as set forth by the Office of Management and Budget).

Reports

(a)

In general

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, and EMS stakeholders, shall submit to Congress a report that— (1)details the challenges, disparities, and inadequacies in providing Federal, State, and private (including commercial insurers) reimbursement for medical transport and emergency medical services; and (2)provides recommendations for improvement with respect to providing such reimbursement. (b)

EMS organizations

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, and EMS stakeholders, shall submit to Congress a report that— (1)describes the challenges specific to EMS organizations, including with respect to Federal, State, and private (including private insurers) reimbursement rates and policies; and (2)contains an action plan to address such challenges through grants and other administrative action.