I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8977 
To amend title XI of the Social Security Act to require the Center for 
Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test an emergency medical services 
treatment-in-place model under the Medicare program. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 10, 2024 
Mr. CAREY (for himself, Mr. DOGGETT, Mrs. MILLER of West Virginia, Mrs. 
DINGELL, and Mr. RYAN) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to 
the Committee on Ways and Means, 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 
A BILL 
To amend title XI of the Social Security Act to require 
the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test 
an emergency medical services treatment-in-place model 
under the Medicare program. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Improving Access to 
Emergency Medical Services Act of 2024’’. 
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SEC. 2. REQUIRING THE CENTER FOR MEDICARE AND MED-
ICAID INNOVATION TO TEST AN EMERGENCY 
MEDICAL 
SERVICES 
TREATMENT-IN-PLACE 
MODEL UNDER THE MEDICARE PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1115A of the Social Secu-
rity Act (42 U.S.C. 1315a) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), in the third sen-
tence, by inserting ‘‘, and shall include the 
model described in subparagraph (B)(xxviii)’’ 
before the period at the end; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by adding at the 
end the following new clause: 
‘‘(xxviii) 
The 
Emergency 
Medical 
Services Treatment-in-Place Model de-
scribed in subsection (h).’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(h) EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES TREATMENT- 
IN-PLACE MODEL.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of subsection 
(b)(2)(B)(xxviii), the Emergency Medical Services 
Treatment-in-Place Model described in this sub-
section is a model under which payment is made 
under part B of title XVIII for treatment services 
furnished to an individual enrolled under such part 
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by a provider or supplier of ground ambulance serv-
ices (as described in section 1834(l)) when such 
services— 
‘‘(A) are not associated with a cor-
responding transport payable under such sec-
tion; 
‘‘(B) are so furnished in response to an 
emergency medical call (as specified by the Sec-
retary) made with respect to such individual; 
and 
‘‘(C) are so furnished in accordance with 
State and local protocols (which may include 
online medical direction). 
‘‘(2) PAYMENT.—The Secretary shall set pay-
ment rates for services furnished under the model 
described in paragraph (1) in a manner that aligns 
such payments with the payments that would have 
been made for such services had such services re-
sulted in a transport payable under section 1834(l). 
‘‘(3) DURATION.—The model described in para-
graph (1) shall be carried out for a period of 5 
years.’’. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 4 years after the date 
on which the Emergency Medical Services Treatment-in- 
Place Model (as described in section 1115A(h) of the So-
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cial Security Act, as added by subsection (a)) is imple-
mented, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance 
of the Senate a report that, taking into account stake-
holder input— 
(1) analyzes various aspects of Medicare bene-
ficiaries’ access to emergency medical services, in-
cluding an evaluation of the impact of such model on 
beneficiary outcomes, resource utilization, and over-
all health care system efficiency; 
(2) compares beneficiary outcomes under such 
model with beneficiary outcomes using traditional 
emergency transportation; 
(3) assesses the impact of regional variations 
and demographics on beneficiary access to emer-
gency medical services; 
(4) identifies best practices and potential chal-
lenges in implementing such model; and 
(5) includes recommendations for improving 
emergency medical services. 
Æ 
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