Permanent Medicare Ambulance Relief Bill Introduced in House
Moments ago, Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL) and Congressman Devin Nunes (R-CA) introduced the Medicare Ambulance Access, Fraud Prevention, and Reform Act of 2019 (H.R. 4938). Congressmen Peter Welch, (D-VT), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) are original cosponsors of the legislation. Thank you to the bill sponsors for their continued support!
H.R. 4938 would help stabilize current and future Medicare reimbursement of ambulance services and set the stage for future reform of the Medicare ambulance fee schedule. If passed, this bill would:
- Make Medicare Add-ons Permanent – Current temporary 2 percent urban, 3 percent rural, and super rural bonus payments would be made permanent.
- Expand Prior Authorization Pilot Program Nationwide – To address fraud and abuse with the transportation of dialysis patients by ambulance, the bill expands the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) national prior authorization program for repetitive non-emergency basic life support (BLS) dialysis transports. CMS has not yet exercised its authority to expand this successful pilot program nationwide. While CMS is considering exercising its authority to extend the program nationwide in a recent proposed rule, it has not made a final determination yet.
- Provide Regulatory Relief – Amend requirements under the 855 form to make change notifications less burdensome.
- Protect Access to Ambulance Services in Rural and Low Population Density Areas – Protect access to ambulance services in rural and super-rural areas, by establishing a policy to protect low volume areas and a process for CMS to review changes in the rural or super-rural status of an area after the next census occurs.
The AAA has worked diligently to get this legislation introduced and we are excited to share this news with the membership. We would like to thank all the AAA members who have worked closely with their elected representatives to get this legislation introduced. In the coming weeks, the AAA will be asking members to contact their Members of Congress to voice their support of this legislation.
If you have any questions, please contact Tristan North (tnorth@ambulance.org) or Aidan Camas (acamas@ambulance.org).
855B Ambulance Enrollment Form, add-ons, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), H.R. 4938, Medicare Access Fraud Prevention and Reform Act of 2019, prior authorization, Representative Devin Nunes (R-CA), Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Representative Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Representative Peter Welch (D-VT), Representative Terri Sewell (D-AL)