PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to House Ways and Means
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Dec 16, 2010
Field EMS Quality, Innovation, and Cost Effectiveness Improvements Act of 2010 - Designates the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as the primary federal agency for field emergency medical services (field EMS). Defines "field EMS" as emergency medical services provided to patients prior to or outside a medical facility or other clinical setting. Requires the Administrator of NHTSA to develop and implement a cohesive national strategy to strengthen the development of field EMS at the federal, state, and local levels.
Directs the Administrator to establish: (1) the EQUIP grant program to promote excellence, quality, universal access, innovation, and preparedness in field EMS; (2) the SPIA grant program to improve field EMS system performance, integration, and accountability; and (3) national guidelines for medical oversight of field EMS. Authorizes the Administrator to maintain, improve, and expand the National EMS Information System, including the National EMS Database, to insure that database information is available to federal and state policymakers, EMS stakeholders, and researchers.
Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to make grants for the development, availability, and dissemination of field EMS education programs and courses for field EMS personnel. Directs the Secretary to: (1) complete an evaluation of alternative delivery models for medical care through field EMS and the integration of field EMS patients with other medical providers and facilities; and (2) conduct or support up to five demonstration projects to evaluate alternative dispositions of field EMS patients (e.g., transporting such patients by ambulance to alternative medical facilities).
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Amends title XI (General Provisions) of the Social Security Act to include field EMS as a model for testing by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation.
Amends the Public Health Service Act to require: (1) the Director of the Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to establish a Field EMS Evidence-Based Practice Center to support research to promote the highest quality of emergency medical care in field EMS and the most effective delivery system for such care; and (2) the HHS Secretary to establish an Emergency Care Coordination Center to promote and fund research, collaboration, and preparedness in emergency medicine and trauma health care.
Requires the Administrator to establish and administer a National Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council to provide advice and recommendations to federal agencies and a national forum to deliberate on field EMS.
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) establish the Emergency Medical Services Trust Fund; and (2) allow taxpayers to designate a portion of any income tax overpayment and make additional contributions to finance such Fund.
People & committees
Rep. Walz, Timothy J. [D-MN-1] · D–MN
Legislative record
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Referred to House Ways and Means
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to House Energy and Commerce
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Aug 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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