State by State: December 2020

CALIFORNIA: Nicholas Rosecrans Award Winner Announced

The California Paramedic Foundation and RedFlash Group announced Kevin Munjal, MD, as the winner of the 2020 Nicholas Rosecrans Award. Munjal was recognized for his leadership of the Mt. Sinai community paramedicine program, which proactively cared for high-risk seniors during the New York COVID-19 surge. The award, sponsored by Air Methods Inc. and facilitated by the California Paramedic Foundation, EMS World, and RedFlash Group, recognizes innovation and excellence in EMS-driven injury and illness prevention. It takes its name from Nicholas Rosecrans, a toddler whose drowning in 1996 sparked an EMS-led injury prevention movement in California. 

NEW YORK: Feds to Restore Money to Sick WTC Responders

The Trump administration says it will pay back millions the federal government took from the FDNY’s 9/11 treatment program over the last four years. The CDC reports a number of federal agencies, including the Treasury Department, will return $3.3 million docked from the program that cares for firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs sickened by exposure to the toxic rubble of the Twin Towers. “It’s a great victory for really deserving people,” Rep. Peter King (R-NY) said. “I mean, this just never should have happened.” 

OKLAHOMA: EMSA Takes Over Big Cities as Service Battle Continues

The Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) will take over ambulance operations in Oklahoma City and Tulsa from its contractor, American Medical Response, amid a legal battle over $16 million in disputed payments. The EMSA board voted to terminate its contract with AMR effective Nov. 30, with about three years to run. EMSA is a public trust serving about 750,000 residents of Oklahoma City and surrounding communities. AMR contracted to provide personnel including paramedics and emergency medical technicians. 

WISCONSIN: Investigation Can’t Corroborate Racial Attack on Teenage EMT

Police in Madison, Wisc., could not corroborate allegations by biracial Monona EMT Althea Bernstein that she was burned by four white men in a June hate crime and have closed the case. Bernstein, 18, said she was attacked while driving by four men who sprayed lighter fluid on her and set her on fire. Madison police cited a lack of supporting evidence, and the FBI and Justice Department, which also investigated, said they “could not establish that the attack” occurred.