42 U.S.C. § 254c-15 : US Code - Section 254C-15: Rural emergency medical service training and equipment assistance program

Search 42 U.S.C. § 254c-15 : US Code - Section 254C-15: Rural emergency medical service training and equipment assistance program

(a) Grants
The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health
Resources and Services Administration (referred to in this section
as the "Secretary") shall award grants to eligible entities to
enable such entities to provide for improved emergency medical
services in rural areas.
(b) Eligibility
To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an entity
shall -
(1) be -
(A) a State emergency medical services office;
(B) a State emergency medical services association;
(C) a State office of rural health;
(D) a local government entity;
(E) a State or local ambulance provider; or
(F) any other entity determined appropriate by the Secretary;
and
(2) prepare and submit to the Secretary an application at such
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the
Secretary may require, that includes -
(A) a description of the activities to be carried out under
the grant; and
(B) an assurance that the eligible entity will comply with
the matching requirement of subsection (e) of this section.
(c) Use of funds
An entity shall use amounts received under a grant made under
subsection (a) of this section, either directly or through grants
to emergency medical service squads that are located in, or that
serve residents of, a nonmetropolitan statistical area, an area
designated as a rural area by any law or regulation of a State, or
a rural census tract of a metropolitan statistical area (as
determined under the most recent Goldsmith Modification, originally
published in a notice of availability of funds in the Federal
Register on February 27, 1992, 57 Fed. Reg. 6725), to -
(1) recruit emergency medical service personnel;
(2) recruit volunteer emergency medical service personnel;
(3) train emergency medical service personnel in emergency
response, injury prevention, safety awareness, and other topics
relevant to the delivery of emergency medical services;
(4) fund specific training to meet Federal or State
certification requirements;
(5) develop new ways to educate emergency health care providers
through the use of technology-enhanced educational methods (such
as distance learning);
(6) acquire emergency medical services equipment, including
cardiac defibrillators;
(7) acquire personal protective equipment for emergency medical
services personnel as required by the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration; and
(8) educate the public concerning cardiopulmonary
resuscitation, first aid, injury prevention, safety awareness,
illness prevention, and other related emergency preparedness
topics.
(d) Preference
In awarding grants under this section the Secretary shall give
preference to -
(1) applications that reflect a collaborative effort by 2 or
more of the entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (F)
of subsection (b)(1) of this section; and
(2) applications submitted by entities that intend to use
amounts provided under the grant to fund activities described in
any of paragraphs (1) through (5) of subsection (c) of this
section.
(e) Matching requirement
The Secretary may not award a grant under this section to an
entity unless the entity agrees that the entity will make available
(directly or through contributions from other public or private
entities) non-Federal contributions toward the activities to be
carried out under the grant in an amount equal to 25 percent of the
amount received under the grant.
(f) Emergency medical services
In this section, the term "emergency medical services" -
(1) means resources used by a qualified public or private
nonprofit entity, or by any other entity recognized as qualified
by the State involved, to deliver medical care outside of a
medical facility under emergency conditions that occur -
(A) as a result of the condition of the patient; or
(B) as a result of a natural disaster or similar situation;
and
(2) includes services delivered by an emergency medical
services provider (either compensated or volunteer) or other
provider recognized by the State involved that is licensed or
certified by the State as an emergency medical technician or its
equivalent (as determined by the State), a registered nurse, a
physician assistant, or a physician that provides services
similar to services provided by such an emergency medical
services provider.
(g) Authorization of appropriations
(1) In general
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
section such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years
2002 through 2006.
(2) Administrative costs
The Secretary may use not more than 10 percent of the amount
appropriated under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year for the
administrative expenses of carrying out this section.