EMS Groups Plan to Form PAC

Major emergency medical service associations are discussing the possibility of forming a political action committee (PAC), a congressional caucus and other means to lobby Washington for federal funding for EMS, said Gary Wingrove, a National EMS Management Association (NEMSMA) board member.

Wingrove said that because of the relatively young nature of the EMS profession -- roughly 30 years old-- the group has not established the political clout in Washington that its fire and police counterparts have. But EMS member organizations have agreed it is time to change that.

"Most industries that are successful with Congress, including our public safety partners -- police and fire -- use a three-pronged approach: A PAC, which supports the campaigns of candidates who are interested in, are proven champions or are in decision-making positions [involving the PAC's issues]; a caucus, which advances favorable legislation; and lobbying," Wingrove said in a "Best Practices In Emergency Services" article. He added that EMS groups now "need to work within the system in the way the system is designed."

The PAC likely would not be formed until 2007, Wingrove said.

In an interview with Inside OSHA, Wingrove said that funding available from homeland security, HHS bioterrorism, health information technology and other government programs is not being directed toward EMS. The funding gap has led to health and safety concerns for EMS. Wingrove said he was concerned "fire and police departments are moving to digital interoperable radio systems and paramedics are no longer being able to communicate with them because they don't have funding to also make the technology switch."

"While EMS providers are some of the first responders that would end up at some kind of event," Wingrove said, "the providers don't have personal protective equipment [and other safeguards] that other first responders do have."

Competing with fire and police PACs and caucuses is one of the challenges EMS will face, Wingrove said. According to Wingrove, Congress in fiscal year 2005 dedicated 2 percent of the federal Fire Act funds for "non-affiliated" ambulance services, or non-profit/governmental/non-hospital-based ambulances. It was also the first year EMS had any access to Fire Act funds, Wingrove said. In FY 2006, Congress does not allocate state homeland security grant funds for EMS, but does require states that do not spend 10 percent of their budget on EMS to explain why, Wingrove said.

NEMSMA, the National Association of EMTs, the National Association of EMS Physicians, the National Association of Flight Paramedics, and the National Association of EMS Educators decided during a January meeting in Dallas to move ahead with forming the PAC. None of the groups currently have a PAC.

The groups have asked Advocates for EMS, an EMS lobbying group, to lead the EMS PAC. The decision was slated to be announced at press time (March 3).

Robert Suter, a former president of the American College of Emergency Physicians, voiced his support for the EMS groups in Best Practices.

"Emergency care providers need to stand together and proclaim that all aspects of emergency care, including EMS, need to be recognized and funded as an essential public service," he said.

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