Sec. 5. Field EMS Excellence, Quality, Universal Access, Innovation, and Preparedness
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/bill/113/hr/809/ih/section-5A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Director of the Office of EMS and Trauma (in this section referred to as the Director ), shall establish the EQUIP grant program— to promote excellence in all aspects of the provision of field EMS by field EMS agencies; to enhance the quality of emergency medical care provided to patients by field EMS practitioners through evidence-based, medically directed field emergency care; to promote universal access to and availability of high-quality field EMS in all geographic locations of the Nation; to spur innovation in the delivery of field EMS; and to improve EMS agency readiness and preparedness for day-to-day emergency medical response.
To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit an application to the Director in such form and manner, that contains such agreements, assurances, and information as the Director determines to be reasonably necessary to carry out this section. The Director shall ensure that grant application requirements are not unduly burdensome to smaller and volunteer field EMS agencies or other agencies with limited resources. The Director shall ensure that grant applications are consistent with national and relevant State preparedness plans and goals.
Grants may be used by eligible entities to— sustain field EMS practitioners to ensure 24 hours a day, 7 days a week readiness and preparedness at the local level; develop and implement initiatives related to delivery of medical services, including— innovative clinical practices to improve the cost effectiveness and quality of care delivered to emergency patients in the field that results in improved patient outcomes and cost savings to the health system, including for high prevalence emergency medical conditions such as sudden cardiac arrest, STEMI, stroke, and trauma; and delivery systems to improve patient outcomes, which may include implementing evidence-based protocols, interventions, systems, and technologies to reduce clinically meaningful response times; purchase and implement— medical equipment and training for using such equipment; communication systems to ensure seamless and interoperable communications with other first responders; and information systems to comply with NEMSIS data collection and integrate field emergency care with electronic medical records; participate in federally sponsored field EMS research; establish or enhance comprehensive medical oversight and quality assurance programs that include the active participation by medical directors in field EMS medical direction and educational programs; and such other uses as the Director may establish.
In establishing and administering the EQUIP grant program, the Director— shall establish a grantmaking process that includes— prioritization for the awarding of grants to eligible entities and consideration of the factors in reviewing grant applications by eligible entities including— demonstrated financial need for funding; utilization of public and private partnerships; enhanced access to high-quality field EMS in under served geographic areas; unique needs of volunteer and rural field EMS agencies; distribution among a variety of geographic areas, including urban, suburban, and rural; distribution of funds among types of EMS agencies, including governmental, nongovernmental and volunteer; implementation of evidence-based interventions that improve quality of care, patient outcomes, efficiency, or cost effectiveness; and such other factors as the Director considers necessary; a peer-reviewed process to recommend grant allocations in accordance with the prioritization established by the Director except that final award determinations shall be made by the Director; and the provision of grant awards to eligible entities on an annual basis, except that the Director may reserve not more than 25 percent of the available appropriations for multiyear grants and no grant award may exceed a 2-year period; shall consult with and take into consideration the recommendations of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, FICEMS, NEMSAC and relevant stakeholders; shall ensure that funds used for day-to-day preparedness activities are consistent and aligned with Federal preparedness priorities; and may contract with an independent, third-party, nonprofit organization to administer the grant program if the Director establishes conflict-of-interest requirements as part of any such contractual relationship.
Eligible grant recipients are field EMS agencies that— are licensed by or otherwise authorized in the State in which they operate; and have medical oversight and quality improvement programs as defined by the Director. The Director shall submit an annual report on the EQUIP grant program under this section to the Congress.