No official summary available for this bill.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8042 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8042
To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants
to qualified entities to support community paramedicine programs, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 17, 2024
Mr. Cleaver (for himself and Mr. Armstrong) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants
to qualified entities to support community paramedicine programs, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Community Paramedicine Act of
2024''.
SEC. 2. COMMUNITY PARAMEDICINE GRANT PROGRAM.
Part P of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
280g et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 399V-8. COMMUNITY PARAMEDICINE GRANT PROGRAM.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Administrator
of the Health Resources and Services Administration, shall award grants
to qualified entities to support community paramedicine programs.
``(b) Use of Funds.--A grant received under subsection (a) may be
used for any of the following:
``(1) Hiring community paramedicine personnel.
``(2) Recruiting and retaining community paramedicine
personnel.
``(3) Reimbursing costs associated with a medical director
providing medical oversight (as the terms `medical director'
and `medical oversight' are defined in section 303(k)(13) of
the Controlled Substances Act).
``(4) Purchasing necessary equipment, including personal
protective equipment, uniforms, medical supplies, and vehicles.
``(5) Reimbursing costs associated with certification and
recertification courses.
``(6) Conducting public outreach and education on the
patient-centered outcomes that can be achieved through
community paramedicine.
``(7) Any other activity the Secretary determines
appropriate related to paramedicine services.
``(c) Qualified Entities.--
``(1) In general.--To be qualified to receive a grant under
this section, an entity shall be (subject to paragraph (2)) one
of the following:
``(A) An emergency medical services agency (as
defined in section 303(k)(13) of the Controlled
Substances Act).
``(B) A State, Indian Tribe, Tribal organization,
county, or municipality.
``(C) An organization representing the interests of
one or more emergency medical services organizations.
``(2) Limitation.--A for-profit entity is ineligible to
receive a grant under this section, but is eligible to receive
a subgrant from, or enter into a contract with, a grantee under
this section to provide items or services in connection with
the grant.
``(d) Applications.--
``(1) In general.--To seek a grant under this section, a
qualified entity shall submit an application at such time, in
such manner, and containing such information and assurances as
the Secretary may require.
``(2) Contents.--Any such application shall, at a minimum,
include the following:
``(A) A description of the financial need of the
qualified entity.
``(B) The costs and benefits of the community
paramedicine program to be supported through the grant.
``(3) Joint applications.--A qualified entity may submit an
application for a grant under this section jointly with one or
more other qualified entities.
``(e) Advisory Board.--The Secretary, after consultation with
national community paramedicine, national fire service, national
emergency medical service, and Tribal health organizations, shall
appoint an advisory board--
``(1) to advise the Secretary on carrying out the grant
program under this section;
``(2) to assist the Secretary in preparing the report
required under subsection (a); and
``(3) to conduct peer review of applications for grants
under this section.
``(f) Selection Considerations.--In selecting the recipients of
grants under this section, the Secretary shall consider each of the
following:
``(1) The recommendations of the advisory board appointed
under paragraph (1) with respect to the applications for such
grants.
``(2) The need in the geographic area involved for the
community paramedicine program proposed to be funded.
``(g) Notice to Tribal Communities.--The Secretary shall give
notice of the grant program under this section to the heads of
community emergency management for Tribal communities.
``(h) Maximum Amount of Awards.--The maximum amount of an award
under this section shall be--
``(1) in the case of a qualified entity applying
individually, $750,000; and
``(2) in the case of two or more qualified entities
applying jointly, $1,500,000.
``(i) Period of a Grant.--The period of a grant under this section
shall not exceed 5 years.
``(j) Administrative Costs.--Of the amount received through a grant
under this section for a fiscal year, a grantee may use not more than--
``(1) 10 percent for administrative costs for the first
year of grant funding; and
``(2) 5 percent for administrative costs for any subsequent
year of grant funding.
``(k) Reporting by Grantees.--As a condition on receipt of a grant
under this section, a qualified entity shall agree to submit to the
Secretary such information as the Secretary may require regarding the
activities funded through the grant and the results of such activities.
``(l) Reporting by Secretary.--Not later than 90 days after the
date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit a report
to the Congress--
``(1) detailing the challenges of establishing and
operating community paramedicine programs, especially to serve
rural and underserved communities;
``(2) demonstrating the cost-savings and value of community
paramedicine programs to patients, communities, and the health
care system; and
``(3) providing recommendations for--
``(A) establishing, and providing support for
ongoing operations of, community paramedicine programs;
``(B) serving rural and underserved communities
through such programs; and
``(C) best practices for community paramedicine
programs.
``(m) Definition.--In this section, the term `community
paramedicine' means mobile-integrated health care through which
communities utilize specially trained paramedics, often teamed with
other health care practitioners or social workers, to--
``(1) address health problems;
``(2) minimize the use of emergency care resources in
circumstances when non-emergency resources like community
paramedic or mobile integrated healthcare (MIH) programs might
be used, thereby making emergency resources more available; and
``(3) enhance access to primary care for medically
underserved populations and those with acute and chronic health
issues.
``(n) Funding.--
``(1) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out this
section, there is authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
``(2) Reservation.--Of the amount appropriated to award
grants under this section for a fiscal year, the Secretary--
``(A) shall reserve 15 percent for applicants
proposing to use a grant to serve one or more Tribal
communities; and
``(B) if the full amount of such reservation is not
obligated, may reallocate the unobligated portion for
grants to other qualified entities.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
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