ACS Views on Legislative, Regulatory, and Other Issues

Trauma and EMS—

• Senators Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Jack Reed (D-RI) Letter to Senate Appropriators in Support of FY 2006 Trauma Funding (475k PDF)
• ACS Statement for the Record to House L-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee in Support of FY 2006 Trauma Care Funding, 4/15/05
• Trauma Coalition Letter to House & Senate L-HHS Appropriations Subcommittees in Support of FY 2006 Trauma Care Funding, 4/8/05
• Bilirakis-Green Sign-On Letter to House L-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee in Support of FY 2006 Trauma Care Funding, 4/8/05 (575K PDF)
• Letter to Members of the Appropriations Subcommittee on L-HHS, re: FY 2006 EMSC funding, 3/31/05
• March 15 letter to Consumer Product Safety Commission re: ATVs

The value of implementing trauma systems through statewide planning has been recognized, and it has already been demonstrated that these organized regional systems result in dramatic improvements in patient outcomes. Unfortunately, in some situations, managed care systems or insurers have interfered with and defeated the purpose of trauma systems by not authorizing treatment without prior authorization, by denying payment, or by requiring the transfer of trauma patients to providers with whom they have entered into contracts. The College believes that managed care plans and insurers should be required to allow their patients to be treated in trauma centers or emergency facilities when true medical emergencies arise. Managed care plans and insurers should coordinate efforts and reach agreement with trauma centers to assure that there is prompt access to and proper reimbursement for trauma care, as well as free exchange of performance data and mechanisms for resolving conflicts.

 ACS Statement on Trauma System Development

March 31, 2005

Dear Appropriations Committee Member:

The undersigned national organizations dedicated to the health and safety of children urge you to provide at least $20 million for the Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) program in FY 2006.

In 2005, the EMSC program marks its 20th anniversary of improving emergency medical system and care for our nation's children. Over the past two decades, the EMSC program has provided the resources and expertise to drive improvements across a wide range of children's EMS issues. The EMSC program has made vital contributions toward the 40% reduction in the pediatric death rate from injuries that has occurred in the 20 years since its inception. Its work is far from over, however, and we urge you to enable this program to continue its critical work.

While it is widely recognized that the emergency medical needs of children differ dramatically from those of adults, there continue to be significant deficiencies in the way that emergency care is delivered to children. For example:

• A recent study showed that 43% of hospitals did not have cervical collars (used to stabilize spinal injuries) for infants.
• Less than half (47%) of hospitals that do not have a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit have a written transfer agreement with a hospital that does have a PICU.
• One-third of states do not have a physician available on-call 24 hours to provide medical direction to EMTs or other non-physician emergency care providers. Of those states that do, many do not have full state coverage.

Today, it is especially important that a strong pediatric emergency medicine system be in place to care for our nation's youth. The national EMSC grant program fills this role by supporting states' efforts to improve the care of children within their emergency medical services systems. EMSC-supported projects include strengthening emergency care infrastructures, assessing local provider needs, and developing comprehensive education and training modules. The EMSC program also ensures timely distribution of emergency care best practices and innovations through its national resource center. EMSC-supported projects have a proven record of success at the state and local level.

Your past support for the EMSC program has clearly helped many communities improve their emergency care services for children. However, we still have much work to do if all children are to have timely access to quality emergency care. We therefore urge you to provide at least $20 million for the EMSC program in FY 2006, as well as the suggested report language that is attached. Should you have any questions, or should you desire additional information, please contact Cindy Pellegrini, American Academy of Pediatrics, at 202-347-8600.

Sincerely,

Advocates for EMS
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
Ambulatory Pediatric Association
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Association of Neurological Surgeons
American College of Emergency Physicians
American College of Surgeons
A O North America
American Orthopsychiatric Association
American Pediatric Society
Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs
Association of Medical School Pediatric Department Chairs
Brain Injury Association of America
Brain Trauma Foundation
Child Neurology Society
Children's Healthcare Is a Legal Duty
Coalition for American Trauma Care
Congress of Neurological Surgeons
Emergency Nurses Association
Family Violence Prevention Fund
National Association of Children's Hospitals
National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians
National Association of EMS Physicians
National Association of State EMS Directors
National Fire Protection Association
National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
National SAFE KIDS Campaign
Physicians for Social Responsibility
National Academies of Emergency Dispatch
Rural Metro Corporation
Society for Pediatric Research
Society of Critical Care Medicine
Voices for America's Children

cc: The Honorable Thad Cochran, Chairman, Senate Appropriations Committee
The Honorable Robert Byrd, Ranking Member, Senate Appropriations Committee
The Honorable Jerry Lewis, Chairman, House Appropriations Committee

Suggested report language for FY2006:

Emergency Medical Services for Children

The Committee provides $20,000,000 for the Emergency Medical Services for Children program, which is the same as the Fiscal Year 2005 comparable level. The Committee acknowledges that this program is the only federal source of funding and expertise for improving EMS systems for children. The Committee commends the EMSC program for its 20 years of achievement in this arena and applauds its commitment to improving the delivery of emergency medical services to ill and injured children.

Revised March 17, 2005

ACS Views on Legislative, Regulatory, and Other Issues

Advocacy and Health Policy