North Columbus News

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Representatives Mike Carey (OH-15), Lloyd Doggett (TX-35), Carol Miller (WV-01), Pat Ryan (NY-18) and Debbie Dingell (MI-12) introduced the bipartisan Improving Access to Emergency Medical Services for Seniors Act. The bill aims to allow seniors on Medicare to receive at-home emergency medical services for minor medical incidents.

“Not every patient is best served by an emergency room visit,” said Congressman Carey. “In fact, for many seniors, a trip to the hospital can mean long wait times, increased costs and potentially life-threatening complications. We’re proud to lead this bill to give our seniors access to the highest caliber of care.”

Treatment-in-place options for emergency medical services reduce costs, increase convenience and protect seniors from potentially life-threatening infections.

Adults aged 65 and older account for nearly 20 percent of all ER visits. This population contributes to the backlog in waiting rooms, even when they might not have an issue requiring inpatient treatment. In a 2021 study, patients who received at-home care had a lower risk for readmission by 26 percent and a lower risk for long-term care admission compared to patients who received in-hospital treatment.

“Treating patients immediately at home and preventing an emergency room trip is sometimes both the best way to help the patient and the taxpayer. Our legislation to establish a Medicare pilot program is designed to show the effectiveness of fair pay to first responders for such services. Thereby we hope to encourage a permanent payment system for treatment in place,” said Rep. Doggett.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers are at the frontline of delivering care and transportation in rural America. In West Virginia, many patients live hours from a hospital and must consistently rely on EMS for treatment.

“Our EMS personnel are equipped to provide care to patients that may not be in a dire medical situation rather than spend precious time and resources on transporting non-emergency patients to a hospital emergency department,” said Congresswoman Miller. “This commonsense legislation builds upon the Treatment-in-Place Model to provide timely care to our rural patients and empower EMS providers.”

“Our grandparents, neighbors, and friends are safer and healthier because of the dedicated care paramedics and EMTs provide,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “They deserve to be compensated – no matter where they administer care.”

Rep. Dingell added, “We should be making it easier for seniors to live and receive the care they need at home and in their communities.”

The bill has received support from several organizations including the National Rural Health Association, International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Association of Firefighters, American Ambulance Association, Congressional Fire Service Institute, National Association of Towns and Townships and the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians.

Randy Strozyk, President of the American Ambulance Association said: "We greatly appreciate the leadership... [The Act] will establish a pilot project that will demonstrate the financial benefits."

Susan Bailey remarked: "EMS Practitioners are now providing medical care in various settings... Reimbursing EMS agencies for TIP will save Medicare billions."

IAFF General President Edward A. Kelly stated: "It is long past time that we reimburse them [fire fighters]... Updating Medicare’s reimbursement policies is common-sense."

Fire Chief John S. Butler also expressed support: “This legislation will allow some of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens…to receive necessary care without being transported.”

Full text of the bill is available here.

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