Bill Overview
Title: EMS Staffing and Support Act
Description: This bill provides funding for FY2023 and each fiscal year thereafter to support organizations that provide medical transport and emergency medical services (i.e., EMS organizations). It also requires the Department of Health and Human Services to report on reimbursement and other challenges faced by EMS organizations, including in rural areas. Specifically, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) must establish a competitive grant program for state, territorial, tribal, and local governments; nonprofit EMS organizations; and nonprofits that represent the interests of EMS organizations. Grant funds may be used for training and other personnel costs, purchasing necessary equipment and supplies, and related purposes. The bill further requires HRSA to allocate funding through compacts or contracts to Indian tribes for such purposes.
Sponsors: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals who rely on emergency medical services globally
Estimated Size: 331000000
- The bill aims to support EMS organizations, which include both non-profit and government-operated services. These organizations operate across various regions including urban and rural areas.
- Funding will support training, personnel costs, and necessary equipment for EMS organizations, directly affecting EMS professionals by improving their working conditions and capabilities.
- Communities, particularly in rural and tribal areas, will benefit from improved emergency medical services due to better-equipped, better-staffed EMS organizations.
- EMS organizations often operate globally, but in the context of this U.S. legislation, the primary direct impact will be on EMS services in the United States.
- The improved services and quicker response times facilitated by the bill can be critical for individuals requiring emergency medical services, potentially affecting the health outcomes of millions.
Reasoning
- We need to simulate a diverse set of individuals, representing various demographics, geographical locations, and current involvement with EMS either as providers or potential users.
- The majority of the individuals will only experience indirect impacts, with direct impacts most felt by EMS personnel and residents of rural areas.
- Positioning a range of people from highly urban areas to remote rural communities will help in understanding regional disparities
- The policy's initial impacts will be more visible in operational improvements for EMS services, therefore professionals within EMS will show more significant changes in their wellbeing scores.
- Evaluating opinions will capture variability across perspectives and elucidate societal views on EMS advancements.
Simulated Interviews
Ranch Owner (Rural Montana)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's reassuring to know that EMS services will get more funds, especially for remote areas like mine where getting timely help is crucial.
- The program sounds promising, but I hope the improvements also cover maintenance of back roads which EMS often uses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Paramedic (New York City)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Better funding means improved equipment and more staff, which is desperately needed in urban settings too.
- I hope this makes our jobs more manageable and improves the quality of the emergency services we provide.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Retired Teacher (Los Angeles)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having reliable EMS is a matter of life and death. Knowing improvements are coming gives some peace of mind.
- I've noticed they're stretched too thin; any improvement is crucial for people like me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
College Student (Chicago)
Age: 22 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's frustrating when EMS services are delayed. I hope the new funding can address these issues.
- Lives could be on the line because of the time it takes to get help, especially in busy areas.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
EMS Training Officer (Houston)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Investment in training is crucial; we constantly struggle with keeping up-to-date resources.
- This could help us improve the skills of new recruits significantly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Tribal Community Leader (Navajo Nation)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Integrating better EMS resources on tribal land is long overdue.
- My community would greatly benefit from quicker EMS response times and better resources.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Non-Profit EMS Organization Volunteer (Seattle)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It is heartening to see more funds directed towards nonprofits as well, as we do significant groundwork.
- This policy could allow us to support more community programs and outreach.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Farmer (Marion County, Iowa)
Age: 41 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Faster EMS services could make a big difference out here in the field.
- I just hope the funds reach us and don't get snagged in administrative processes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Hospital Administrator (Miami)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improved EMS operations could alleviate pressure on our emergency department.
- This could foster better cooperation and patient outcomes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Charter Bus Driver (Birmingham, Alabama)
Age: 46 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Enhanced EMS functions could prevent long traffic stalls during emergencies.
- I hope they coordinate better with city planning to improve all-around traffic flow and response times.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1000000000 (Low: $800000000, High: $1200000000)
Year 2: $1050000000 (Low: $840000000, High: $1260000000)
Year 3: $1100000000 (Low: $880000000, High: $1320000000)
Year 5: $1200000000 (Low: $960000000, High: $1440000000)
Year 10: $1400000000 (Low: $1120000000, High: $1680000000)
Year 100: $2500000000 (Low: $2000000000, High: $3000000000)
Key Considerations
- The bill requires continuous funding with no specified cap, implying ongoing federal financial commitment.
- The primary benefits are likely to manifest in improved public health outcomes and quality of emergency services, especially in underserved regions.
- There is uncertainty about the long-term fiscal impact due to potential indirect economic benefits, such as workforce productivity gains through improved public health.