"I am grateful for this recognition by the American Ambulance Association and for the efforts by the Maine association to bring so many of our state's first responders together for this wonderful event," said Senator Collins in her remarks. "As a leader of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, I see again and again the crucial role our nation's first responders play in protecting the American people. Our police officers, firefighters, and ambulance crews are on the front lines. I am proud of this award, but I am prouder still of you who step forward to serve the people of our nation and our state."
"This award recognizes Senator Collins' longstanding commitment to ensuring adequate Medicare reimbursement rates for ambulance service providers," said Tim Beals, President of the Maine Ambulance Association. "We are also grateful for her leadership in providing funding for rural communities throughout Maine to purchase automated external defibrillators (AEDs), which have saved many lives."
Senator Collins, a strong supporter of EMS providers and first responders, authored the Rural AED Act, which provides grants to states to purchase defibrillators for distribution to community organizations and businesses and to train potential responders in their use. Since this law was enacted in late 2000, more than $40 million has been awarded in 49 states. As one of three pilot states for this program, Maine has received more than $1 million and some 600 AEDs have been deployed throughout Maine. Along with each AED comes training in the use of the device as well as in basic CPR and first aid.
Senator Collins has also supported legislation to increase reimbursement rates ambulance service providers receive from Medicare. According to a report by the Government Accountability Office, ambulance service providers are reimbursed on average six percent below their cost of providing services to Medicare patients.