Healthcare (Hospitals · Emergency Management)

The Emergency Responders Mental Health Training Act directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to create a pilot fellowship program that funds postbaccalaureate training for mental health and substance use disorder professionals. This initiative aims to increase the number of culturally competent practitioners who understand the unique stressors, duties, and confidentiality requirements faced by emergency response providers such as police, firefighters, and EMTs. The bill authorizes $10 million in annual appropriations for fiscal years 2028 through 2033 to support these fellowships across fields including psychiatry, nursing, social work, and psychology. Additionally, the Secretary must submit reports to Congress two and five years after the program's establishment to evaluate its efficiency, impact on patient outcomes, and overall effectiveness.

HR 3134, the Emergency Care Improvement Act, allows Medicare and Medicaid to reimburse freestanding emergency centers (FECs) for specific emergency services. The bill defines FECs as 24/7 facilities meeting state emergency care standards, with physician staffing, hospital referral agreements, and quality programs - currently operating in over 118 locations, primarily in Texas. It amends coverage rules to include FECs under Medicare Part B and Medicaid for "specified emergency services" (excluding certain evaluation codes), sets payment rates based on outpatient department standards, and extends EMTALA emergency care laws to cover these centers. This policy change directly affects FECs and Medicare/Medicaid beneficiaries by enabling reimbursement for emergency care previously excluded from coverage.