III

106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. RES. 302

Expressing the sense of the Senate that the Health Care Financing Administration should consider current systems that provide better, more cost

effective emergency transport before promulgating any final rule regarding the delivery of emergency medical services.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

MAY 3, 2000

Mr. TORRICELLI (for himself and Mr. LAUTENBERG) submitted the following

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Finance

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Senate that the Health Care

Financing Administration should consider current systems that provide better, more cost effective emergency

transport before promulgating any final rule regarding

the delivery of emergency medical services.

Whereas the State of New Jersey developed and implemented

a unique 2-tiered emergency medical services system

nearly 25 years ago as a result of studies conducted in

New Jersey about the best way to provide services to

State residents;

Whereas the 2-tiered system established in New Jersey includes volunteer and for-profit emergency medical technicians who provide basic life support and hospital-based

paramedics who provide advanced life support;
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•SRES 302 IS

Whereas the New Jersey system has provided universal access for all New Jersey residents to affordable emergency

services, while simultaneously ensuring that those persons

in need of the most advanced care receive such care from

the proper authorities;

Whereas the New Jersey system currently has an estimated

20,000 emergency medical technicians providing ambulance transportation for basic life support and advanced

life support emergencies, over 80 percent of which are

handled by volunteers who are not reimbursed under the

medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act;

Whereas the hospital-based paramedics, also known as mobile

intensive care units, are reimbursed under the medicare

program when they respond to advanced life support

emergencies;

Whereas the New Jersey system saves the lives of thousands

of New Jersey residents each year, while saving the medicare program an estimated $39,000,000 in reimbursement fees;

Whereas when Congress requested that the Health Care Financing Administration enact changes to the emergency

medical services fee schedule as a result of the Balanced

Budget Act of 1997, including a general overhaul of reimbursement rates and administrative costs, it was in the

spirit of streamlining the agency, controlling skyrocketing

healthcare costs, and lengthening the solvency of the

medicare program; and

Whereas the Health Care Financing Administration is considering implementing new emergency medical services reimbursement guidelines that would destabilize or eliminate
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•SRES 302 IS

the 2-tier system that has developed in the State of New

Jersey: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the

2 Health Care Financing Administration should—

3 (1) consider the unique nature of the emergency

4 medical services delivery system in New Jersey when

5 implementing new reimbursement guidelines for

6 paramedics and hospitals under the medicare pro7 gram under title XVIII of the Social Security Act;

8 and

9 (2) promote innovative emergency medical serv10 ice systems enacted by States that reduce reimburse11 ment costs to the medicare program while ensuring

12 that all residents receive quick and appropriate

13 emergency care when needed.

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