2011 EMS on the Hill Day
Save the date! May 3 - 4, 2011
NAEMT invites all EMS professionals to attend the most important advocacy event of 2011 - EMS on the Hill Day. EMS on the Hill Day provides participants with the opportunity to join with other EMS professionals from across the nation and meet with congressional leaders on Capitol Hill to advocate for the passage of key EMS legislation.
EMS on the Hill Day:
- includes representation from all sectors of the EMS community
- sends a consistent message to our elected leaders on the important issues facing EMS in our country
- builds and strengthens our relationships with Senate and House leaders and their staff
Program highlights
May 3, 5 p.m. – Meet with other participants, attend the pre-Hill visit briefing
May 4, morning/afternoon – Attend scheduled appointments with your Senate and House leaders and their staff
May 4, 5 p.m. – Attend the post-Hill visit reception
Registration will be open soon!
The Washington Plaza Hotel will serve as the official headquarters for the event. The room rate is $289 single or double, and rooms are limited. To make your reservations, call 1-800-424-1140.
EMS on the Hill Day 2010
EMS Professionals Meet With Members of Congress at EMS on the Hill Day
On May 3-4, 2010, NAEMT hosted the first annual EMS on the Hill Day to advocate for EMS as part of the EMS community’s first coordinated effort to visit congressional leaders and staff on Capitol Hill. This event, which will be held annually, was the EMS community's first coordinated effort to meet with Congressional leaders and staff on Capitol Hill.
Our first Hill Day included representation from all sectors of the EMS community, with 120 EMS professionals from 40 states and Puerto Rico advocating to more than 160 U.S. Senators and House Representatives.
Click here to view more photos from the event.
Issues addressed with representatives included:
- The Medicare Ambulance Access Preservation Act of 2009 (S. 1066, H.R. 2443) -This would provide permanent Medicare reimbursement relief for ambulance services consistent with the 1997 GAO report that determined that they are paid significantly below cost. It would provide a permanent 6 percent increase for ambulance transports originating in urban or rural areas and add a bonus payment for transports originating in super rural areas.
- The Dale Long Emergency Medical Service Providers Protection Act (S. 1353) and the Nongovernmental Emergency Responder Family Protection Act (H.R. 2485) - Both bills would extend the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) program - which currently only apply to those employed by a federal, state or local government entity - to EMS professionals employed by private, non-profit EMS agencies.
- Field EMS legislation - Currently under development, this would implement a cohesive strategy to strengthen the development of our nation's field EMS at the federal, state and local levels. The bill, which is expected to be introduced this summer, will promote patient-centered, medically directed, evidence-based, cost-effective and safe field EMS service throughout the United States to enhance 24/7 readiness, catastrophic preparedness and continual innovation in quality and capability for the betterment of patients.
When Hill visits concluded, NAEMT hosted a reception for all EMS on the Hill Day participants. At the reception, Congressman Tim Walz from Minnesota received the Legislator of theYear Award from Advocates for EMS.