IV
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. CON. RES. 320
Expressing the sense of the Congress that the Health Care Financing Admin-
istration should consider current systems that provide better, more cost-
effective emergency transport before promulgating any final rule regard-
ing the delivery of emergency medical services.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 9, 2000
Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN (for himself, Mrs. ROUKEMA, Mr. LOBIONDO, Mr.
SAXTON, Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey, Mr. HOLT, Mr. SMITH of New Jer-
sey, Mr. ANDREWS, Mr. ROTHMAN, Mr. PASCRELL, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr.
PAYNE, and Mr. PALLONE) submitted the following concurrent resolution;
which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addi-
tion to the Committee on Commerce, for a period to be subsequently de-
termined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the Congress that the Health Care
Financing Administration should consider current sys-
tems 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 two-tiered emergency medical services system
nearly 25 years age as a result of studies conducted in
New Jersey about the best way to provide services to
State residents;
•HCON 320 IH
Whereas the two-tiered system established in New Jersey in-
cludes volunteer and for-profit emergency medical techni-
cians who provide basic life support and hospital-based
paramedics who provide advanced life support;
Whereas the New Jersey system has provided universal ac-
cess 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 ambu-
lance 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 Secu-
rity 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 medi-
care program an estimated $39,000,000 in reimburse-
ment fees;
Whereas when Congress requested that the Health Care Fi-
nancing 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 re-
imbursement rates and administrative costs, it was in the
spirit of streamlining the agency, controlling skyrocketing
•HCON 320 IH
healthcare costs, and lengthening the solvency of the
medicare program; and
Whereas the Health Care Financing Administration is consid-
ering implementing new emergency medical services reim-
bursement guidelines that would destabilize or eliminate
the two-tiered system that has developed in the State of
New Jersey: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that the
Health Care Financing Administration should—
(1) consider the unique nature of the emergency
medical services deliver system in New Jersey when
implementing new reimbursement guidelines for
paramedics and hospitals under the medicare pro-
gram under title XVIII of the Social Security Act;
and
(2) promote innovative emergency medical serv-
ice systems enacted by States that reduce reimburse-
ment costs to the medicare program while ensuring
that all residents receive quick and appropriate
emergency care when needed.
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