>> Click for webcast on-demand playback.

This webcast of EMS Live in Wisconsin was recorded on Tuesday, February 9, 2016.  Co-hosts included Joe Covelli and Patrick Ryan, and the program lasted 30 minutes.

Our first guest at 5:00 minutes into the program was EMS Office Licensing Coordinator Helen Pullen with the State of Wisconsin.  We discussed what is required to renew your EMT, paramedic, or emergency medical responder license as all state licenses expire as of June 30, 2016.  The license renewal website is https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/ems/licensing/renewal.htm.

At 20 minutes into the program State of Wisconsin EMS and Trauma Medical Director Dr. Suzanne Martens joined us to explain House of Representatives bill 4365, Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medication Act.  It has been recognized that EMS technically operates outside of the current DEA rules for controlled substances for pain and seizures.  The DEA has allowed this to continue, but has stated it cannot do so without a change in the actual regulations.  A draft bill to change these regulations has been written and proposed.  The House of Representatives is processing it, and will vote in the near future.  Without this bill change, all administration of controlled substances will require radio/phone contact for an order with medical control; and the ordering and stocking of these medications will be complex and costly, with potentially every ambulance being considered an "office".  Since the majority of requests for paramedic intercepts involves controlled substances, this impacts all levels of care.  >> Click for the HR4365 Toolkit and how to contact your local elected federal representative.

How you can support the effort:

Locate your appropriate Representative using a zip code search and activate an email communication.  >> Click to enter your zip code and submit to start the process.  Copy and paste the communication below in the body of the email using the template below and adding the Representative's name at the beginning, your name at the end, and any changes you wish.
 
Email template:

Subject: Please Co-sponsor H.R. 4365

Dear Representative  [name]   ;

As an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) provider, I am writing to ask you to cosponsor the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act of 2016, H.R. 4365.  I am committed to the safety of patients; and it is out of that commitment that I request your support.

H.R. 4365 clarifies that the current practice of physician medical directors overseeing care provided in the field by paramedics and other EMS practitioners via “standing orders” is statutorily allowed and protected.  The use of “standing orders” is necessary so that physician medical directors can establish these pre-set protocols which EMS practitioners follow in delivering field EMS care. 

When minutes count, “standing orders” are essential to enable EMS practitioners to immediately administer controlled substances on a timely basis and save lives.  In the absence of standing orders, patients would not have access to the time-sensitive and potentially life-saving interventions they so desperately need.

Accordingly, H.R. 4365 ensures patients will continue to receive these vital medications by:

Codifying the practice of standing orders by a physician Medical Director for the administration and delivery of controlled substances, maintaining physician oversight of medical decisions, while,

Making the EMS Agency liable for the receiving, storing, and tracking of controlled substances, similar to current procedure at hospitals.
 
I again urge you to cosponsor this important legislation. If you would like to co‐sponsor or would like more information, please contact Preston Bell in Rep. Hudson’s (R-NC) office at Preston.Bell@mail.house.gov or in Rep. Butterfield’s office (D-NC) Dennis Sills at dennis.sills@mail.house.gov.

Sincerely,

Next EMS Live webcast Tuesday, February 23

The next live show is Tuesday, February 23 starting at 9:00 a.m.  the topic is Wisconsin Medicaid and ambulance reimbursement rates for patient transports.  Our guests include EMS Advisory Board Chairman Jerry Biggart, Baraboo Ambulance Chief Dana Sechler and Paratech Ambulance Vice President Larry Knuth.

Don't miss a beat of Wisconsin EMS action - listen to EMS Live!