The Pew Charitable Trusts recently published an article that highlights issues confronting EMS. In a recent profile, Stateline characterizes the nation's emergency medical services system as one subject to public budget cuts, a lack of a lead federal agency, differing state laws and requirements, and varying pay rates for pre-hospital providers, all of which creates a fragmented and underfunded system of care. The authors note that the relative "newness" of emergency medical services as a public service further hinders its funding and operations. Advocates, however, hope that large-scale disasters and emergencies, like the Boston Marathon bombing, will increase both the focus on and finances for this critical public benefit. Read Front-Line Heroes Subject to Budget Cuts, Pay Disparity.