# Supporting Our First Responders Act: What You Need to Know

This bill creates a new federal grant program to give money directly to emergency medical services (EMS) organizations—the ambulance services and paramedics who respond to 911 calls. The federal government would set aside $50 million per year for five years to help these organizations pay for things they desperately need, like hiring and training paramedics, buying ambulances and medical equipment, and upgrading facilities. An additional $5 million per year would help EMS organizations figure out how to apply for these grants.

The money would go to volunteer fire departments, municipal EMS services, nonprofit ambulance companies, and some for-profit services, though for-profit companies would get a smaller share (no more than 2 percent of total grants and capped at $100,000 each). Importantly, at least 20 percent of the grants must go to rural areas, where ambulance services often struggle the most because they serve fewer people over larger distances. Individual nonprofits could receive up to $300,000, and multiple organizations could team up to apply together. The government would use a competitive process where experts from the EMS field review applications and decide which organizations have the greatest need and would benefit the most.

Beyond the grant program, the bill also requires the federal government to study and report back to Congress about why EMS organizations are struggling financially. The reports would look at problems with how insurance companies and government programs like Medicare reimburse ambulance services, and recommend ways to fix these payment issues. The government would also track whether the grants actually help ambulance services respond faster and serve more people, reporting back every two years on whether the program is working as intended.

Supporting Our First Responders Act

Kim, Andy

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.