Advocates for EMS President, Dr. Bruce Walz, today raised concerns about the FY 2009 President’s Budget for programs that support emergency medical services (EMS) providers.
“President Bush has proposed significant cuts in first responder grant programs within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The FY 2009 President’s Budget proposes a $750 million in cuts from the FY 2008 level for Basic State Formula Grants, eliminates the Metropolitan Medical Response System and deeply cuts the Firefighter Assistance Grants. A recent report issued by the Department shows that EMS providers continue to receive only four percent of the total first responder grant funding. “EMS is already receiving such a small piece of the pie, to cut first responder grant programs would be even more harmful to EMS providers ability to respond to a disaster, whether it is tornadoes in Tennessee, a 35 car pile-up on I-70 in Kansas due to a winter storm or other types of disasters if adequate resources aren’t made available,” said Walz.
In addition, the budget proposes to eliminate the Traumatic Brain Injury Program, the Emergency Medical for Children Services Program and the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant within the Department of Health and Human Services. Another program that does not receive any funding in the President’s Budget is the Trauma Systems Planning and Development Act that was just reauthorized in 2007. The program provides grants to states to help develop their trauma response plans.
“The lack of adequate funding for these programs at DHS and HHS in addition to inadequate Medicare reimbursement rates is exacerbating problems that exist within a very fragile first responder network. We hope that Congress will carefully review the impact that these budget proposals would have on emergency medical services providers and their ability to respond to an incident and provide good patient care.”
Advocates for EMS is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to increasing awareness among decision-makers in Washington on issues affecting emergency medical service (EMS) providers.