House clears bill providing emergency medical services for children

The House cleared legislation by a vote of 410-4 on Tuesday that would reauthorize the Emergency Medical Services for Children Program.

The measure, which the Senate passed by unanimous consent last week, would reauthorize the program through fiscal 2019. Congress last reauthorized the program in 2010.

{mosads}Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.) said that the program was necessary to ensure that children receive medical care tailored to their needs.

“A child’s health care necessities are not the same as their parents’. Children have special health care needs and the emergency and trauma care system has been slow to develop an adequate response,” Pitts said. 

Del. Donna Christensen (D-Virgin Islands) said the program has assisted communities in the past.

“EMSC grant programs help assess emergency systems and implement quality improvement measures, improve services in rural and tribal communities and support a research network to facilitate studies in pediatric emergency care,” Christensen said.