Register by February 15 for EMS on the Hill Day

Who really believes politicians are looking out for you? Chances are if you’ve never spoken with your own lawmakers they’re not; they’re looking out for the people they have talked to. It’s simple math. Lawmakers represent a lot of people, with a lot of different priorities. If you don’t tell them what’s important to you they can’t fight for it, and they may even end up fighting for the exact opposite of what you want. But you can change that joining your colleagues for the third annual EMS on the Hill Day, March 21 in Washington, D.C., hosted by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT).

Register by Feb, 15 for the opportunity to meet peers in the EMS industry from all across the country as you march on the Capitol to let your members of Congress know about the challenges you face in providing emergency medical care, and to advocate for the passage of key EMS legislation.

Last year 145 EMS professionals from 39 states and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico advocated for EMS at the second annual EMS on the Hill Day. Participants met with more than 217 U.S. Senators, House Representatives, and their congressional staff. Read EMS World’s recap of last year’s event.

So why is grassroots advocacy so important? “It gives the street level EMS practitioner who deals with the heart of what we do, patient care, a chance to be heard by those who make the decisions that determine much of what their job entails,” says Scott Kier, Massachusetts State Advocacy Coordinator. “It gives every EMT, paramedic and first responder a way to control their own fates, rather than leave it up to someone else.

“From the day that I spent on Capitol Hill last year at EMS on the Hill Day, and the reading that I have done since, I have made one determination: our legislators need us as much as we need them,” adds Kier. “Many of the decisions they make are based on assumptions. They vote the way that they do, and back the bills that they do, because no one is willing to tell them otherwise. It is up to us to change that.”

Highlights of the 2012 program include:

March 20, 2 p.m.—Bonus event: As an added benefit for 2012, attendees will be able to participate, free of change, in the Reimbursement Task Force meeting of the American Ambulance Association at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 20, at the Washington Plaza Hotel, which serves as headquarters for the event. The meeting will address reimbursement issues affecting EMS and will discuss health care reform, Medicare ambulance relief and other hot topics.

March 20, 5 p.m.—Participants meet for an informative pre-Hill visit briefing.

March 21, morning/afternoon—Participants attend scheduled appointments with their Senate and House leaders and their staff to talk about challenges they face and EMS legislation that can help.

March 21, evening—Participants relax and gather together for a post-Hill visit reception.

Grants offered to members
NAEMT recognizes that the cost of participation may be beyond the means of some members. To assist them, NAEMT will provide grants of up to $1,200 each to four active members to subsidize the cost of participation. The grant application deadline is Feb. 1. These grants are open only to NAEMT active members. A grant application is located on the EMS on the Hill Day web page in the Advocacy section of www.naemt.org.

“This event is hosted by NAEMT to help ensure that EMS has a strong voice in the nation’s capitol and in government decisions that affect EMS practitioners and their ability to provide quality care to their patients,” says Jim Judge, director, Region II, and NAEMT Advocacy Committee Chair. “Please join me and EMS professionals from throughout the nation as we work to educate our congressional leaders on EMS issues and advocate for the passage of key EMS legislation. The success of this event depends on participation from the EMS community, so please join us as we work to make EMS on the Hill Day 2012 the best year yet.”