A measure granting $25 million to emergency medical services organizations passed the state House Tuesday, with the support of Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint.
“Our EMS crews have been on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19 for nearly two years, and it has taken a toll on them emotionally as well as financially,” Causer told The Era after his vote in favor of the measure. “Especially for our rural EMS companies that were already struggling significantly to make ends meet, these additional grant funds will help them keep their doors open and continue their mission of protecting public safety.”
Senate Bill 739, as amended by the House, would direct $25 million in federal disaster relief funds to be distributed under the Emergency Medical Services COVID-19 Recovery Grant Program. EMS companies that qualified for similar grants in the 2019-20 fiscal year would be eligible for these funds through the Office of the State Fire Commissioner.
“That is really a huge help,” said Causer, who has worked as both a 9-1-1 dispatcher and in EMS in the past. “They struggle with lack of personnel and lack of funding.
“We took a Senate bill that dealt with a loan program and amended this grant program into it in the House,” the legislator explained. “It’s going back over to the Senate for concurrence.”
Causer said he expects the Senate to approve it soon.
“Hopefully we can get this money out quickly. I said on the House floor that (EMS providers) are in a state of crisis,” Causer continued. “There are places in rural Pennsylvania where you could be waiting a long time for resources.”
The funding would be divided evenly amongst all applicants. Qualified uses would include recruitment and retention; construction or renovation of an EMS company’s facilities; purchase or repair of equipment; debt reduction; training and certification; public education; or revenue loss.
“EMS agencies all across the state are struggling,” Causer said. “The system is crumbling and coming apart. That’s why this infusion of funding is so important. We’re thankful for all of the services we have and we have to do everything we can to keep them.”
The funding is a continuation of efforts last month in which the General Assembly voted to provide $225 million in funding to support the state’s health care workers and encourage new nurses to enter the field. A total of $210 million is being directed to hospitals and behavioral health providers to provide recruitment and retention payments to nurses and other employees, while an additional $15 million is being invested in nurse student loan forgiveness.
It is also the latest step in supporting life-saving emergency medical services organizations. In 2020, Causer successfully spearheaded efforts to help offset training costs for EMTs by increasing funding for the Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund. He also led the successful effort to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for Advanced Life Support and Basic Life Support ambulance calls. Additionally, he was a vocal supporter of laws to require insurance companies to reimburse for treatment provided, even when no transport takes place; allow direct pay from insurance companies to EMS providers; and offer staffing waivers to ambulance companies in rural areas so they may continue to serve their communities.
Senate Bill 739 heads back to the Senate for its consideration.
