Sen. Kent Conrad (N.D.) has introduced a bill to fund what he calls high-quality emergency medical services for people living in rural states, and to help ease regulations that deny payment for ambulance services after the fact.

The legislation would authorize $50 million annually in federal grants to EMS providers in rural areas. The grants, according to the bill, could be used for a variety of training and equipment needs, including hiring and training personnel, acquiring new ambulances or other equipment, and educating the public about CPR and other EMS techniques.

The legislation also clarifies the “prudent layperson” standard to guarantee that ambulance services are reimbursed appropriately. Currently, Medicare sometimes denies payment for an ambulance after the fact, if the patient's condition isn't as serious as the layperson who called for the ambulance believed. Conrad's bill would require Medicare and Medicaid to pay the EMS provider for all transportation costs.

Conrad says the bill has bipartisan support in the Senate, as well as the support of the National Association of State EMS Directors, National Rural Health Association and American Ambulance Association. The legislation has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee, where Conrad is a senior member.

In other legislative news, Rep. Felix Grucci (N.Y.) has introduced H.R. 827, which would create a $100 million grant program to assist with the purchase of thermal imaging cameras. Under the bill, recipients would have to provide one-third of the cost of the cameras.

For a list of fire and emergency services legislation, visit the Congressional Fire Services Institute Web site at <<a href="http://www.cfsi.org" target="_blank">www.cfsi.org> or contact Jerry Ross, CFSI's legislative director, at 202-371-1277.