Supporting Our First Responders Act

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Grant Program through which the Secretary may make grants to EMS organizations, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Supporting Our First Responders Act 2. Emergency Medical Services Grant Program (a) Emergency Medical Services Grant Program (1) In general The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall establish a program, to be known as the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Grant Program Program (2) Eligibility To be eligible for a grant under the Program, an EMS organization shall submit to the Secretary of Health and Human Services an application at such a time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including the following: (A) A description of the financial need of the EMS organization. (B) An analysis of the costs and benefits, with respect to improving medical transport and emergency medical services, of the activities to be carried out through the grant. (3) Joint applications An EMS organization may submit a joint application with one or more other EMS organizations under this subsection. (4) Peer review of grant applications The Secretary of Health and Human Services, after consultation with national EMS organizations, shall appoint representatives of volunteer, municipal, for-profit, and nonprofit EMS organizations and entities to conduct peer review of applications. (5) Prioritization of grant awards In awarding grants under the Program the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall consider each of the following: (A) The findings and recommendations of the peer reviews carried out under paragraph (4). (B) The degree to which an award will improve the coverage, response times, and ability of EMS organizations to provide medical transport and emergency medical services. (C) The extent of the need of an applicant for a grant under this subsection and the need to protect the United States as a whole. (D) Whether an EMS organization has previously received Federal funding. (b) Purposes Grants made under the Program may be used by recipient EMS organizations for the following purposes: (1) Maintaining, or, if appropriate, increasing, the number of trained front-line EMS responders, including providing salaries and stipends, providing wellness and fitness programs for EMS organization personnel, and covering or reimbursing costs associated with certification and recertification courses. (2) Obtaining resources, including purchasing EMS vehicles, personal protective equipment, uniforms, medicine, and medical supplies. (3) Modifying facilities. (4) Any other activity the Secretary determines appropriate. (c) Allocation of grant awards (1) Limitation Not more than two percent of grants awarded under the Program may be made available to EMS organizations that operate for profit or to otherwise support efforts to establish or provide emergency medical services, or medical transport, for profit. A grant under the Program to such a for-profit EMS organization (if singly) or to such EMS organizations (if a result of a joint application) or to otherwise so support such efforts shall be in an amount not to exceed $100,000. (2) Further limitation A grant under the Program to a not-for-profit EMS organization or a joint application shall be in an amount not to exceed $300,000. (3) Reservation Not less than 20 percent of grants awarded under the Program shall be made available to EMS organizations in rural areas. (d) Metrics The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall develop metrics to assess the effectiveness of the Program in improving the coverage, response times, and ability of EMS organizations to provide medical transport and emergency medical services. (e) Claw backs The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall make every available effort to recover grant funds in case of noncompliance. To carry out this subsection, the Secretary shall establish a process through which notification is conveyed to EMS organizations determined to be in noncompliance, and such organizations are provided an opportunity to respond to such notification prior to the recovery of such funds. (f) Assessments; reports Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act and not less frequently than biennially after, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall— (1) conduct an assessment of the Program based on the metrics developed pursuant to subsection (d); and (2) submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report summarizing the findings of the assessment and recommendations to strengthen the overall program. (g) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Health and Human Services— (1) $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027 to carry out the Program; and (2) $5,000,000 for each of such fiscal years to provide technical assistance to EMS organizations completing and submitting applications. (h) Definitions In this section: (1) EMS organization The term EMS organization (2) Emergency medical services The term emergency medical services (A) means resources used by a licensed entity to deliver medical care outside of a medical facility under emergency conditions that occur as a result of the condition of the patient; and (B) includes services delivered (either on a compensated or volunteer basis) by an emergency medical services provider or other provider that is licensed or certified by the State involved as an emergency medical technician, a paramedic, or an equivalent professional (as determined by the State). (3) Rural area The term rural area (A) a nonmetropolitan statistical area; (B) an area designated as a rural area by any law or regulation of a State; or (C) a rural census tract of a metropolitan statistical area (as determined under the most recent rural urban commuting area code as set forth by the Office of Management and Budget). 3. Reports (a) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, and EMS stakeholders, shall submit to Congress a report that— (1) details the challenges, disparities, and inadequacies in providing Federal, State, and private (including commercial insurers) reimbursement for medical transport and emergency medical services; and (2) provides recommendations for improvement with respect to providing such reimbursement. (b) EMS organizations Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, and EMS stakeholders, shall submit to Congress a report that— (1) describes the challenges specific to EMS organizations, including with respect to Federal, State, and private (including private insurers) reimbursement rates and policies; and (2) contains an action plan to address such challenges through grants and other administrative action.

Summary: Supporting Our First Responders Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants on a competitive basis to nongovernmental or governmental entities that provide medical transport and emergency medical services (EMS). Grant recipients may use funds to, for example, support the EMS workforce (e.g., by providing salaries and stipends or covering certification costs) and purchasing vehicles, personal protective equipment, and other resources.