Emergency Nurses Association Applauds Funding for Children's Emergency Care Program

SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Oct. 9, 2018 – The Emergency Nurses Association applauds Congress for approving and the president for signing an important spending bill that provides full funding for the Emergency Medical Services for Children, or EMSC, program.

The fiscal year 2019 appropriations package, H.R. 6157, includes funding for the Departments of Health and Human Services, as well as the Departments of Labor, Education and Defense.

Importantly, H.R. 6157 allocated $22.3 million for the EMSC program. In its fiscal year 2019 budget proposal, the Administration had targeted this program for elimination.

The EMSC program ensures that the entire spectrum of emergency health care services is provided to children and adolescents no matter where in the U.S. they live, attend school or travel. The mission of the program is to reduce child mortality and morbidity caused by severe illness or trauma.

All 50 states have received EMSC funding, which helps train and educate emergency department staff and EMS providers. In addition, the EMSC program coordinates pediatric emergency research initiatives that can lead to improved patient care. ENA commends Congress for preventing the elimination of this program.

The fiscal year 2019 spending package also provided critical support for other ENA-supported priorities, including the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development programs, poison control centers and the National Institute of Nursing Research.