A bill ensuring that children receive appropriate healthcare during a medical emergency was signed into law as the new year kicked off. U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, R-GA, led efforts on the Emergency Medical Services for Children Reauthorization Act of 2024 (EMSC) that was signed recently by President Joe Biden.
“As a pharmacist, I understand how critical it is that children receive high-quality care that is specialized to their unique needs,” said Carter. “The EMSC program has proven effective at saving lives and provides all hospitals with the resources necessary to treat young patients. I am proud to lead this important bill reauthorizing the program, which is now law, and will continue supporting policies that promote children’s health and well-being.”
Established in 1984, EMSC is the only federal program focused on enhancing emergency care for children and adolescents, according to Carter. From providing tailored medical equipment to recommended dosage requirements for prescription drugs, the EMSC program enables health care professionals to meet the specific needs of young patients and has decreased pediatric injury-related death rates by more than 40 percent.
According to Carter, EMSC funding is used to ensure that hospitals and ambulances are properly equipped to treat pediatric emergencies, provide pediatric training to paramedics and first responders, and improve the systems that allow for efficient, effective pediatric emergency medical care.
The last version of the bill initially provided funding through 2024, but now provides the funding through fiscal 2029.
“The last thing a parent or caregiver wants to worry about during a medical emergency is whether their first responders or hospital has the resources necessary to save their child,” said Dr. Torey Mack, Chief Medical Officer of the Children’s Hospital Association, who came out in support of the bill. “This is sadly a reality in some regions where providers do not have the resources or training to meet the unique needs of children in a medical emergency.”
The House bill was co-led by U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor, D-FL, John Joyce, R-PA, and Kim Schrier, D-WA. U.S. Sen. Ted Budd, R-NC, championed this bill in the upper chamber.
