Carter bill providing emergency medical services to children signed into law

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. Earl L. "Buddy" Carter today celebrated the signing of his Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Reauthorization Act of 2024 into law, ensuring children receive appropriate health care during a medical emergency.

The bill was co-led by Reps. Kathy Castor (D-FL), John Joyce (R-PA), and Kim Schrier (D-WA). Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) championed this bill in the Senate.

Established in 1984, EMSC is the only federal program focused on enhancing emergency care for children and adolescents. 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.

"As a pharmacist, I understand how critical it is that children receive high-quality care that is specialized to their unique needs. 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," said Rep. Carter.

"Children and adolescents require unique, specialized emergency care, and bipartisan support from Congress is critical," said Rep. Castor. "The EMSC reauthorization builds on 40 years of research and care to seriously ill and injured children to ensure that-no matter where a child lives-the health systems in their area provide quality emergency care services. As the Co-Chair of the Children's Health Care Caucus and representative of several major children's hospitals, I know that reauthorizing EMSC is a critical step toward improved outcomes and fully prepared pediatric specialists."

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 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. "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 Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) program is the only federally funded initiative that provides the means to ensure hospitals and paramedics are equipped to care for pediatric patients during medical emergencies. Children's hospitals fight every day to save lives, but in instances where a pediatric patient cannot make it to a children's hospital, families need the assurance that all health care providers are prepared to care for children of all ages. Children's Hospital Association is grateful to the Congressional champions of the EMSC Reauthorization Act and appreciate President Biden for signing this vital program into law."

"The Emergency Medical Services for Children Act has been a longstanding priority for ENA because of the tremendous need for emergency nurses to have access to the specialized equipment and training pediatric patients require. Thank you to Rep. Carter for his work to ensure this program continues to help EDs in all 50 states improve their pediatric readiness in ways that improve care and outcomes when pediatric patients come into an ED," said Emergency Nurses Association President Chris Dellinger MBA, BSN, RN, FAEN.

Supporting Organizations: Academic Pediatric Association, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Ambulance Association, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Pediatric Society, Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs, Association of Medical School Pediatric Department Chairs, Children's Hospital Association, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Emergency Nurses Association, First Focus Campaign for Children, March of Dimes, National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT), National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, National Association of State EMS Officials, National League for Nursing, Nemours Children's Health, Pediatric Policy Council, Society for Pediatric Research, The National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health, and The Paramedic Foundation.


Read the full bill text here.

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