Southern West Virginia News

Today in Washington, D.C., a group of bipartisan lawmakers, including Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV), Congressman Mike Carey (R-OH), Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), and Congressman Pat Ryan (D-NY), introduced the Comprehensive Alternative Response for Emergencies (CARE) Act. This proposed legislation aims to enhance emergency medical services for seniors on Medicare by supporting treatment-in-place measures and alleviating the need for hospital transportation for minor medical incidents.

Congresswoman Miller emphasized the importance of such legislation for rural areas where patients often live far from hospitals. She stated, "Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers are at the frontline of delivering care and transportation in rural America. In West Virginia, many patients live hours from a hospital and must consistently rely on EMS for treatment... This commonsense legislation builds upon the Treatment-in-Place Model to provide timely care to our rural patients and empower EMS providers... across the U.S."

Congressman Carey added that treatment in place could be a more viable option for seniors, highlighting its benefits: "For some patients, an emergency room visit may not be necessary and can place additional burdens on our first responders and health care providers in the hospital," said Congressman Carey. "For many, including seniors on Medicare, treatment in place is more viable, saves time and money, and increases the availability of first responders."

The CARE Act aligns with the opinions of emergency medical professionals, who advocate for a modernized payment model that recognizes the critical role of EMS. Chief Christopher Way, President of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT), emphasized the potential benefits: "Treatment In Place (TIP) could save Medicare between $1.2 and $1.5 billion annually... Passage of this measure will... meet patients’ needs without long waits at the hospital, and save the government money!"

Jamie Pafford-Gresham, President of the American Ambulance Association, expressed support, emphasizing the role of paramedics and EMTs: “We greatly appreciate Congressmen Carey and Doggett introducing the Comprehensive Alternative Response for Emergencies Act... Paramedics and EMTs are highly-trained medical professionals providing care under medical protocols.”

The bill proposes a five-year pilot payment program to test this treatment-in-place model under Medicare. Recognizing that adults aged 65 and older account for nearly 20% of all emergency room visits, the CARE Act seeks to improve efficiency and care quality while reducing unnecessary hospital admissions.

Support for the legislation comes from key organizations, including the American Ambulance Association, the International Association of Fire Fighters, and the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians.