How EMS on the Hill Day 2026 Connects EMS Experience and Federal Policy

Each year, emergency medical services professionals from across the United States gather in Washington, D.C. for EMS on the Hill Day, an annual event organized by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT). The event is designed to support direct dialogue between EMS clinicians, system leaders, and federal policymakers, creating space to share real‑world perspectives on how national policy decisions influence prehospital care, workforce stability, and patient outcomes. In 2026, EMS on the Hill Day is taking place March 25th and 26th and continues a long‑standing tradition of connecting EMS experience with federal health policy discussions.

To better understand how EMS on the Hill Day is structured and the role it plays in national policy conversations, the video below offers a brief overview of the event in Washington, D.C.

What Is EMS on the Hill Day?

EMS on the Hill Day is designed as both an educational and engagement-focused event. Participants attend briefings that outline current federal policy issues relevant to EMS, followed by scheduled meetings with members of Congress and congressional staff. NAEMT coordinates these meetings and provides issue briefs so that conversations are consistent and grounded in shared information. Individual attendees bring their own experiences and local context, and the event emphasizes collective storytelling built from those shared perspectives.

The event typically draws EMS professionals from a wide range of service models, including fire-based, hospital-based, rural, and private EMS agencies. This diversity reflects the many ways EMS is organized and delivered across communities nationwide.

A Brief Look at the History and Evolution of the Event

EMS on the Hill Day has evolved alongside changes in both healthcare delivery and federal policy. Earlier iterations of the event focused heavily on ambulance reimbursement and Medicare payment policy. Over time, the scope has broadened to include workforce sustainability, integration with the broader healthcare system, and innovations in prehospital care delivery.

In more recent years, the conversation has increasingly included policy‑aligned approaches, with NAEMT emphasizing coordinated messaging and collaboration as EMS continues to intersect with public health, emergency preparedness, and value‑based care models.

Key Topics and Outcomes from EMS on the Hill Day 2025

In 2025, discussions centered on several persistent and emerging issues facing EMS nationwide. Among the most prominent topics were Treat in Place models that focus on payment for service rather than transport, ongoing reimbursement limitations, drug supply shortages, workforce recruitment and retention challenges, and the unique pressures faced by rural EMS systems.

According to post-event summaries and NAEMT commentary, lawmakers expressed interest in better understanding how non-transport care models could reduce unnecessary emergency department utilization while maintaining patient safety. The 2025 conversations also reinforced the importance of data and consistent workforce definitions when evaluating EMS needs at the federal level. While legislative outcomes often unfold over extended timelines, the 2025 event helped set the stage for continued discussion of pilot programs and targeted funding approaches in subsequent sessions.

Policy Areas Receiving Attention in 2026

The 2026 EMS on the Hill Day builds on prior discussions while reflecting current policy priorities. This year’s conversations are focused on several interconnected areas that affect both EMS operations and patient care. These include payment for service models such as Treat in Place, investment in Mobile Integrated Healthcare and Community Paramedicine programs, accurate accounting of the EMS workforce in federal data, targeted grant support for rural recruitment and training, and reimbursement considerations related to blood products administered in the prehospital setting.

Rather than advocating a single solution, these discussions aim to describe how existing reimbursement structures and regulatory frameworks interact with modern EMS practice. For example, Treat in Place models are often discussed in the context of patients who do not require emergency department transport and may benefit from on-scene care combined with telehealth or referral pathways. Similarly, Mobile Integrated Healthcare and Community Paramedicine programs are framed as one approach communities have used to address gaps in access and care coordination, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

Legislative Proposals as Discussion Frameworks

Several federal bills are commonly referenced during EMS on the Hill Day as vehicles for discussion rather than endorsements. These include the Comprehensive Alternative Response for Emergencies (CARE) Act, which would establish a pilot program through the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to evaluate Treat in Place models, and the Community Paramedicine Act, which proposes grant funding for Mobile Integrated Healthcare and Community Paramedicine initiatives.

In the context of the event, these bills help ground policy conversations in practice, encouraging participants to consider how legislative proposals connect to patient care, operational experience, and long‑term healthcare system objectives.

Why the Event Continues to Matter

Congressional decisions shape EMS reimbursement, workforce policy, and regulatory requirements nationwide. EMS on the Hill Day provides a consistent forum for sharing field-based insights at a time when prehospital care is increasingly recognized as a critical entry point into the healthcare system. By bringing together clinicians, educators, and leaders from across the country, the event helps ensure that federal policymakers hear directly from those delivering care in diverse settings.

For many attendees, the value of EMS on the Hill Day lies not only in meetings with lawmakers, but also in peer exchange. Conversations among EMS professionals often highlight common challenges, innovative practices, and emerging trends that extend beyond any single legislative session.

Looking Ahead

As EMS continues to evolve alongside changing community needs, workforce dynamics, and healthcare delivery models, EMS on the Hill Day remains a consistent space for national conversation. The 2026 event reflects continuity with prior years while recognizing that EMS policy development is an ongoing process shaped by experience, evidence, and dialogue. For many, the event serves as a place where frontline realities and federal decision‑making intersect.

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