Representatives Reintroduce Legislation to Strengthen EMS Systems

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) and Congressman Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) recently reintroduced the bipartisan Modernizing EMS Delivery and Sustainability (MEDS) Act, which aims to strengthen the EMS workforce, increase available resources and improve response times.

Notably, the bill includes an AABB-supported Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) demonstration program to evaluate a separate payment model for essential EMS medications. The payment model would include blood and blood products used in the prehospital setting.

Additionally, the bill directs federal efforts to reduce EMS “wall time” and calls for a study on compensation levels needed to attract and retain EMS physicians and professionals.