WASHINGTON 鈥� For years, EMS providers who are cross-trained as firefighters have been undercounted 鈥� and overlooked 鈥� in the federal data that shapes policy and funding.
Now, the EMS Counts Act seeks to change that. by U.S. Representatives Glenn 鈥淕T鈥� Thompson (R-PA) and John Mannion (D-NY), the bipartisan bill would direct the U.S. Department of Labor to revise its classification system. The goal: to ensure firefighter/EMTs and firefighter/paramedics are accurately counted in the national EMS workforce.
Here鈥檚 what EMS providers need to know about the EMS Counts Act, how it impacts data collection and funding, and why it matters for the future of the profession.
What is the EMS Counts Act?
The is legislation introduced in the House of Representatives to correct how the federal government categorizes and counts emergency medical services practitioners. Specifically, it directs the Secretary of Labor to revise the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) System maintained by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Currently, EMS practitioners who also serve as firefighters are often not included in official EMS workforce counts 鈥� skewing national data and limiting visibility into staffing shortages, funding needs and workforce planning.
Why does the EMS workforce go undercounted?
According to the bill, the BLS fails to include dual-role firefighter/EMTs and firefighter/paramedics in its occupational data for EMS providers. This means that even though many EMS professionals are responding to medical calls while serving in fire departments, they are only counted as firefighters 鈥� not as part of the EMS workforce.
This classification gap creates a significant undercount of emergency medical personnel, making it harder to:
- Assess workforce shortages
- Plan for public health emergencies
- Allocate funding and grants
- Develop workplace protections
What would the bill do?
If passed, the EMS Counts Act would:
- Require the Secretary of Labor to update the 鈥�33-2011 Firefighters鈥� category in the SOC system to include:
- Firefighters
- Firefighter/EMTs
- Firefighter/paramedics
- Firefighters, all other
- Direct the Department of Labor to submit a report to Congress detailing:
- Past efforts to separate EMTs and paramedics in data collection
- Steps taken to implement the revised classifications
These changes must be made within 120 days of the bill鈥檚 enactment, with the final report due within 270 days.
Why does accurate EMS classification matter?
EMS professionals play a critical role in public safety 鈥� responding to more than 22 million emergency calls each year. From strokes and cardiac arrests, to mass casualty events and natural disasters, EMS providers are often the first point of medical contact.
Yet without accurate workforce data, government agencies lack the insight needed to support and protect these responders.
鈥淲ithout an accurate count of the number of EMTs, paramedics and other emergency service providers, it creates a challenge to adequately meet the health and safety needs of our communities,鈥� Rep. Thompson, who spent decades as a volunteer firefighter and EMT, .
Who supports the EMS Counts Act?
The legislation has strong bipartisan support and is endorsed by key industry organizations, including:
- International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF)
鈥� 鈥淓MS is an intrinsic part of the firefighting profession,鈥� said IAFF General President Edward A. Kelly. - National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT)
鈥� 鈥淭o undercount EMS personnel is to undercut our nation鈥檚 ability to provide life-saving and preventive community care,鈥� said NAEMT President Chris Way. - Lawmakers from both parties
鈥� Rep. Mannion emphasized that the act 鈥渟upports our first responders by ensuring they are properly recognized in national workforce data.鈥�
What鈥檚 next for the EMS Counts Act?
As of June 2025, the EMS Counts Act has been referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce. If it advances through the committee and gains further bipartisan support, it could move to a full House vote.
EMS professionals and stakeholders are encouraged to track the bill鈥檚 progress and reach out to their representatives to express support.
