Health Reform Update for EMS

(12/24/09) Majority Leader Reid (D-NV) on Dec. 21 released the Manager's Amendment to the base Senate health reform bill. The Manager's Amendment prevents a funding gap from occurring between Jan. 1, 20110 and March 2010. During this time, the urban ground base rate increase of 2% and the rural ground increase of 3% would have expired until they were set to be reinstated in April 2010. (The air-specific rural definition was impacted by the same funding gap.) The Manager's Amendment prevents the lapse in payments from occurring. In addition, the Super Rural 22.6% ground bonus payments that were set to expire on Dec. 31, 2009, were continued through calendar year 2010. (See provisions starting on page 162 of the legislative text.)

In general, the 383-page amendment includes a number of changes, including provisions specifically added to obtain Sen. Nelson (D-NE) and other on-the-fence Democratic Members' votes. (See the summary of all the changes here.) According to the Congressional Budget Office, the bill will cost $871 billion over 10 years, reduce the deficit by $132 billion over the same period and cover more than 31 million people. The Democrats now have the 60 votes to pass the bill - barring any procedural roadblocks - before Christmas. Reid is about to file cloture, setting up the first of 3 key votes for early Monday morning. Final passage could come on Wednesday or Thursday. The final Senate bill will likely then be reconciled with the House bill in a Conference Committee set to begin at the end of the year or in early January.

Drew Dawson Receives NHTSA Administrator's Employee of the Year Award

(12/09/09) Office of EMS Director Drew Dawson has been awarded the NHTSA Administrator’s Employee of the Year Award. Acting Deputy Administrator Ron Medford presented the award during a Dec. 3 ceremony at DOT headquarters. In accepting the award, Mr. Dawson was cheered on by a packed crowd of NHTSA employees, including the entire staff of the Office of EMS and key State and Federal EMS leaders. However, the Awards Program more specifically outlines what earned Mr. Dawson this year’s honor: “His expertise, thoughtfulness, strategic thinking, work ethic, and demeanor have given NHTSA a model EMS office that plays an outsize role in developing, coordinating, and implementing national EMS policies.” NASEMSO congratulates Drew, his EMS office, and all the NHTSA award winners. complete details here

NASEMSO Mourns the Loss of David Taylor, Arkansas State EMS Director

(11/09/09) On Nov. 5, 2009, the EMS community lost a visionary leader and great friend with the unexpected death of Arkansas State EMS Director, David Taylor. NASEMSO invites all state EMS officials and partner groups to share their memories of David, share photos, and express their sympathies to his family and friends at the NASEMSO memorial site in honor of David.
     David started his career in emergency services as an EMT in 1989. He became a paramedic in 1991 and joined the Arkansas Department of Health on June 1, 1999 as an EMS Specialist. He served as Certification Administrator, Interim Director, and he became Director of Emergency Medical Services in April 2003. 
    David was a member of the Paramedic Society, Instructor Society, Arkansas EMT Association and he served as a National Registry Paramedic/Instructor.  At the time of his death, he was the Southeast Regional Director, Treasurer, and Program Committee Chair for the National Association of State EMS Officials.
    President Steve Blessing issued this statement on behalf of NASEMSO, “David Taylor was a dedicated family man, a committed public servant, and a good friend and colleague.  We were blessed by his friendship, grateful for his commitment, indebted to his experience, and honored by his presence.  Our thoughts and prayers are with his beloved wife and children and all our colleagues in the Arkansas Office of EMS and Trauma. We will deeply miss him.”

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