NAEMT honors Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Representative Cynthia Axne (D-IA) with a 2021 NAEMT EMS Legislator of the Year Award during the virtual EMS On The Hill Day and Briefing event, April 6-15, the largest national advocacy event for emergency medical services (EMS) professionals. 

Briefing and Awards Presentation

 

This prestigious award recognizes members of Congress who demonstrate an outstanding commitment to, and support of, high-quality prehospital and emergency medical care, as well as the EMS professionals who dutifully serve our nation’s patients. Senator Cortez Masto introduced legislation (S. 149) to allow Medicare reimbursement under certain circumstances of treatment in place (TIP) by ground ambulance service organizations during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Representative Cynthia Axne introduced the companion bill in the House (H.R. 1609). This legislation was included in the American Rescue Plan passed by Congress and signed into law on March 11.

 

“Emergency medical technicians and paramedics have worked tirelessly to save lives during this pandemic, putting themselves at risk day in and day out to keep their communities safe. When I saw that ambulance operators weren’t being paid unless they took patients to the hospital during the coronavirus pandemic, I knew that was wrong and worked across the aisle to fix it. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to support our emergency medical services, and I’m honored to receive this recognition. I’ll continue to work to protect our first responders and the critical work they do on behalf of our communities.” — Senator Catherine Cortez Masto 

 

“While I am humbled to receive this nomination for the Legislator of the Year, the real praise belongs to our first responders. Our frontline heroes have always answered the call when our communities were in need—and this past year, that meant responding to a pandemic on top of every medical emergency imaginable. Every call, every request for help, put our first responders at risk for this virus and they responded. Our communities are deeply grateful for the work all our EMS first responders have done—you have been essential to combating this pandemic, while maintaining essential health care services in times of emergencies. I know I speak for my entire state of Iowa and millions of others when I say thank you for your work and dedication. For me, supporting legislation and increasing funding that helps our first responders is just common sense,” said Representative Axne.

 

Bruce Evans, President of NAEMT noted, “Supporting EMS agencies and practitioners, especially during this public health emergency, is for some a lifeline for being able to continue to provide needed service and care in our communities. NAEMT is grateful for the legislation brought forward by Senator Cortez Masto and Representative Axne and appreciates their support of our profession and the patients we serve. EMS practitioners in Nevada, Iowa, and across the country will applaud their support.”