S. RES.302

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Expressing the sense of the Senate that the Health Care Financing Administration

should consider current systems that provide better, more cost effective

emergency transport before... (Introduced in the Senate)

SRES 302 IS

106th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. RES. 302

Expressing the sense of the Senate that the Health Care Financing Administration

should consider current systems that provide better, more cost effective

emergency transport before promulgating any final rule regarding the delivery of

emergency medical services.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 3, 2000

Mr. TORRICELLI (for himself and Mr. LAUTENBERG) submitted the following

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Finance

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RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Senate that the Health Care Financing Administration

should consider current systems that provide better, more cost effective

emergency transport before promulgating any final rule regarding the delivery of

emergency medical services.

Whereas the State of New Jersey developed and implemented a unique 2-tiered

emergency medical services system nearly 25 years ago as a result of studies

conducted in New Jersey about the best way to provide services to State

residents;

Whereas the 2-tiered system established in New Jersey includes volunteer and

for-profit emergency medical technicians who provide basic life support and

hospital-based paramedics who provide advanced life support;

Whereas the New Jersey system has provided universal access for all New Jersey

residents to affordable emergency services, while simultaneously ensuring that

those persons in need of the most advanced care receive such care from the

proper authorities;

Whereas the New Jersey system currently has an estimated 20,000 emergency

medical technicians providing ambulance transportation for basic life support

and advanced life support emergencies, over 80 percent of which are handled by

volunteers who are not reimbursed under the medicare program under title XVIII

of the Social Security Act;

Whereas the hospital-based paramedics, also known as mobile intensive care

units, are reimbursed under the medicare program when they respond to advanced

life support emergencies;

Whereas the New Jersey system saves the lives of thousands of New Jersey

residents each year, while saving the medicare program an estimated $39,000,000

in reimbursement fees;

Whereas when Congress requested that the Health Care Financing Administration

enact changes to the emergency medical services fee schedule as a result of the

Balanced Budget Act of 1997, including a general overhaul of reimbursement rates

and administrative costs, it was in the spirit of streamlining the agency,

controlling skyrocketing healthcare costs, and lengthening the solvency of the

medicare program; and

Whereas the Health Care Financing Administration is considering implementing new

emergency medical services reimbursement guidelines that would destabilize or

eliminate the 2-tier system that has developed in the State of New Jersey: Now,

therefore, be it

Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the Health Care Financing

Administration should--

(1) consider the unique nature of the emergency medical services delivery

system in New Jersey when implementing new reimbursement guidelines for

paramedics and hospitals under the medicare program under title XVIII of the

Social Security Act; and

(2) promote innovative emergency medical service systems enacted by States

that reduce reimbursement costs to the medicare program while ensuring that all

residents receive quick and appropriate emergency care when needed.

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