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RFP | Leadership Development & Education Preferred Partner

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in AAA HQ, Events.

Preferred Partner Proposal

Leadership Development & Education

Released February 15, 2023 | Responses Due March 17, 2023

Overview

The American Ambulance Association is a national trade association that serves ambulance services of all types and sizes. Our primary membership is comprised of leadership level representatives from organizations, including CEOs, owners, directors and managers.

The American Ambulance Association safeguards the future of mobile healthcare through advocacy, thought leadership, and education. AAA advances sustainable EMS policy, empowering our members to serve their communities with high-quality on-demand healthcare. For more than 40 years, we have proudly represented those who care for people first.

The American Ambulance Association board and its members are committed to providing high-quality healthcare to every patient regardless of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and/or on the basis of differing ability. We dedicate time, thought, and resources to fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, and mutual respect within the Emergency Medical Services workforce and leadership. Together, we save and sustain the lives of community members.

Preferred Partner Program

The American Ambulance Association is seeking a preferred partner in the leadership development and education space; experience working with EMS systems, agencies, and individuals is required. The preferred partner program is a minimum of two years (ending in December of 2024) with the opportunity to renew for an additional year.

 

The goals of this Preferred Partner Program are:

  • Provide AAA members with a vetted, comprehensive, industry focused option for leadership development & education option that addresses the needs of all levels; new supervisor to experienced executives.
  • Provide a more diverse, fresh perspective in our leadership offerings, including webinars and sessions at our annual conference & trade show.
  • Enhance our leadership-themed content including website articles and social and blog posts, newsletters, and quick-take videos.

Structure

The American Ambulance Association is prepared to offer its preferred leadership development and education partner the following:

  • Direct marketing of program and course offerings to the AAA members
  • Opportunities to share information and promote programs through newsletter articles, blog posts, social posts, and quick take videos
  • Two 60-minute webinars per calendar year
  • Influence on a leadership track at our annual conference and tradeshow
  • Opportunity to develop an executive leadership retreat for the AAA

The American Ambulance Association expects the following from its preferred partners:

  • Clear communication and timely responses
  • Creativity, a willingness to learn and grow together
  • Exceptional customer service for our valued members
  • Responsiblity for the development of all materials

Financial Incentives

The firm selected will

  • A Pre-Conference at the AAA Annual Conference and Trade Show – all registration fees collected for the pre-conference will be given to the preferred partner.
  • All the fees collected from the Leadership Education Webinar series will be given to the preferred partner.
  • In 2024 -the development of an executive leadership training series with all expenses paid by the parrtner and all fees given to the partner.

Minimum Requirements

Individuals and organizations responding to this opportunity should meet the following minimum requirements:

  • Offer a comprehensive family of programs that address multiple levels of leadership
  • Take an active approach to, and offer coaching on, diversity, equity, and inclusion in EMS
  • Be able to provide references and examples of program success/value
  • Be widely available, accessible to all AAA members
  • Seek and maintain Affiliate Membership in the Association for the duration of the partnership
  • Sponsor and Exhibit at the Annual Conference and Tradeshow for the duration of the partnership
  • Indemnify the Association against all legal action that may arise out of the partnership
  • Provide the AAA with a quarterly report detailing utilization/participation by AAA Members
  • Provide members with a quality service/product at a savings compared to the open market.

Selection Process and Timeline

Interested parties should submit a written proposal that specifically defines the products and services offered to mbianchi@ambulance.org no later than March 17, 2023. The timeline for the process regarding the review of and Proposals to the selection is as follows:

  1. RFP distributed widely to potential organizations and consultants – February 15, 2023
  2. Questions and comments submitted to AAA Executive Committee – February 20-28, 2023
  3. Proposals Due – March 17, 2023
  4. Committee reviews proposals, interviews top two proposals – March 20-29, 2023
  5. Leadership Edcuation Partner selected – March 31, 2023

 

 

As a non-profit, vendor-neutral organization, the AAA does not formally endorse any product, service, or company. The AAA may provide statement or support for activities or products on which it has agreed to collaborate. Statements of support may also be provided for non-collaborative products that are of significant public benefit.

CAAS Announces Interim Administrator for Ground Vehicle Standard (GVS)

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in AAA HQ, News.

Driven to a Higher Standard

 

 

 

CAAS Announces Interim Administrator for Ground Vehicle Standard (GVS)
For Immediate Release
 

GLENVIEW, ILLINOIS – February 2, 2023 – The Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS) is pleased to announce that Mark Postma has accepted the position of Interim Administrator for CAAS’s Ground Vehicle Standard.  Mark Postma succeeds Mark Van Arnam, who held the Administrator position from the inception of the Ground Vehicle Standard in 2014.  Van Arnam leaves CAAS to take on the role of President of the REV Ambulance Group.

 

CAAS Chair Dale Berry said “CAAS wishes to extend its deep-felt appreciation for the tremendous contributions that Mark Van Arnam has provided over the last 7 years.  Tapping into his significant industry expertise and passion for creating standards that improve ground vehicle safety, Mark Van Arnam was instrumental in establishing the CAAS Ground Vehicle Standard as the emergency transportation’s preferred standard. Our industry is safer because of Mark Van Arnam’s commitment and passion.”

 

In announcing Postma’s new interim role within CAAS, Dale Berry, said; “CAAS is extremely fortunate to have someone with Mark Postma’s experience and leadership abilities to continue the very successful launch and ongoing development of the Ground Vehicle Standard.  Mark Postma has been the CAAS GVS Committee Co-Chair since 2016 and has a depth of knowledge that ensures a seamless transition.  Mark Postma started as a paramedic over 40 years ago and continues as an esteemed leader in the EMS field.”

 

About the CAAS Ground Vehicle Standard (GVS)

 

Starting in 2014, CAAS established a Vehicle Standard Committee to develop consensus-based ground ambulance vehicle standards called GVS. Thanks to the hard work of this broad-based committee, the third significant update to the standard, GVS 3.0, was released in July 2022.
With the release of GVS 3.0, CAAS has strengthened its position as the leader in emergency vehicle standards. The CAAS GVS Standard is designed for use by EMS regulators and providers for use in their vehicle requirement processes.

 

The new ambulance vehicle section of GVS V3.0 contains updates and edits from the prior version, and includes the latest safety, quality, and compliance requirements for new production ambulances. In addition, GVS V3.0 contains a comprehensive Remount Standard. The GVS Remount Standard provides minimum requirements for both Remounters and Remounted Ambulances, including specific requirements for vehicle production processes and quality control.

 

About the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS)

 

The Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS) was established in 1993 to encourage and promote quality patient care in America’s medical transportation system.  CAAS is an independent Commission that established a comprehensive series of standards for the ambulance service industry.

CAAS accreditation signifies that an ambulance service has met the “gold standard” determined by the ambulance industry to be essential in a modern emergency medical services provider. These standards often exceed those established by state or local regulation.  The CAAS standards are designed to increase operational efficiency and clinical quality, while decreasing risk and liability to the organization.
CAAS is an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Accredited Standards Developer (ASD).

 

 

 
Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS)

1926 Waukegan Road Phone: (847) 657-6828
Suite 300 Fax: (847) 657-6825
Glenview, Illinois E-mail: CAAS Staff
60025-1770 Website: www.caas.org

CMS Innovation Center Releases Additional Model Data

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Regulatory.

CMS is pleased to announce the availability of Research Identifiable Files (RIFs) and Public Use Files (PUFs) for two CMS Innovation Center models.

CMMI Model Data Sharing (CMDS) Model Participation Files

CMS is releasing new participation data for the following models:

These models join the 10 models that released data in 2022, bringing the total to 12 models represented in the CMMI Model Data Sharing (CMDS) model participation files. Each model in the release will include a set of three files, one per participant type (entity, provider, beneficiary). Each set of files will be updated on a quarterly basis, reflecting changes captured for the prior quarter. Quarterly updates will include “full replacement files” and will contain data from the launch of each model to the current quarter. The group of models for which files are available will expand over time to include additional models.

To get information about the participating models and data files, please visit the CMMI Model Data Sharing Model Participation Data Initiative page.

Comprehensive ESRD Care (CEC) Model Data

Additionally, CMS is announcing the availability of new Research Identifiable Files (RIFs) for the 2018-2020 performance years for the Comprehensive ESRD Care (CEC) Model. Two RIFs are available for each model year:

  1. The CEC Beneficiary RIF contains enrollment data for beneficiaries in the CEC Model for a given model year
  2. The CEC Provider RIF contains identifying information about the providers participating in the CEC Model for that year.

CMS will also be releasing the Public Use Files (PUFs) for performance years 4 and 5 on the CEC website. These files contain public information about the model participants and their performance. For more information on the model visit https://innovation.cms.gov/innovation-models/comprehensive-esrd-care.

Follow us on Twitter | Visit the CMS Innovation Center website

 

REV | Ambulance Industry Veterans to Lead Manufacturing Group

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in News.

Press Release

BROOKFIELD, WI – January 31, 2023 – The long-time ambulance manufacturing team of
Mark Van Arnam and Randy Hanson have been selected to lead the REV Ambulance Group.
Mark will serve as President for the Group and Randy will function as Chief Operating Officer.
“Mark and Randy have worked together in our company’s ambulance operations for over 35
years” stated Paul Bamatter, Chairman of REV Group’s Board of Directors. “They are well
known as the leading ambulance team in the business.”

The REV Ambulance Group is the largest ambulance manufacturing corporation in the industry,
and consists of legendary brands AEV, Horton, Leader, Road Rescue and Wheeled Coach.
“Our main objective is to provide our customers and dealers the high-quality vehicles that they
need and that we are known for,” Bamatter added. “We believe this new leadership team will
take our ambulance group to the next level.”

###

About REV Group, Inc.
REV Group companies are leading designers and manufacturers of specialty vehicles and
related aftermarket parts and services, which serve a diversified customer base, primarily in the
United States, through three segments: Fire & Emergency, Commercial, and Recreation. They
provide customized vehicle solutions for applications, including essential needs for public
services (ambulances, fire apparatus, school buses, and transit buses), commercial
infrastructure (terminal trucks and industrial sweepers), and consumer leisure (recreational
vehicles). REV Group's diverse portfolio is made up of well-established principal vehicle brands,
including many of the most recognizable names within their industry. Several of REV Group's
brands pioneered their specialty vehicle product categories and date back more than 50 years.
REV Group trades on the NYSE under the symbol REVG.

Media:
Julie Nuernberg
Director of PR & Social Media
+1.262.389.8620 (mobile)
julie.nuernberg@revgroup.com

OMB PHE Update | May 11

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Executive, Government Affairs, Legislative, Regulatory.

January 30, 2023
(House Rules)

STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY
H.R. 382 – A bill to terminate the public health emergency
declared with respect to COVID-19
(Rep. Guthrie, R-KY, and 19 cosponsors)

H.J. Res. 7 – A joint resolution relating to a national emergency
declared by the President on March 13, 2020
(Rep. Gosar, R-AZ, and 51 cosponsors)
The COVID-19 national emergency and public health emergency (PHE) were declared by the Trump Administration in 2020.  They are currently set to expire on March 1 and April 11, respectively.  At present, the Administration’s plan is to extend the emergency declarations to May 11, and then end both emergencies on that date.  This wind-down would align with the Administration’s previous commitments to give at least 60 days’ notice prior to termination of the PHE.

To be clear, continuation of these emergency declarations until May 11 does not impose any restriction at all on individual conduct with regard to COVID-19.  They do not impose mask mandates or vaccine mandates.  They do not restrict school or business operations.  They do not require the use of any medicines or tests in response to cases of COVID-19.

However, ending these emergency declarations in the manner contemplated by H.R. 382 and H.J. Res. 7 would have two highly significant impacts on our nation’s health system and government operations.

First, an abrupt end to the emergency declarations would create wide-ranging chaos and uncertainty throughout the health care system — for states, for hospitals and doctors’ offices, and, most importantly, for tens of millions of Americans.  During the PHE, the Medicaid program has operated under special rules to provide extra funding to states to ensure that tens of millions of vulnerable Americans kept their Medicaid coverage during a global pandemic.  In December, Congress enacted an orderly wind-down of these rules to ensure that patients did not lose access to care unpredictably and that state budgets don’t face a radical cliff.  If the PHE were suddenly terminated, it would sow confusion and chaos into this critical wind-down.  Due to this uncertainty, tens of millions of Americans could be at risk of abruptly losing their health insurance, and states could be at risk of losing billions of dollars in funding.  Additionally, hospitals and nursing homes that have relied on flexibilities enabled by the emergency declarations will be plunged into chaos without adequate time to retrain staff and establish new billing processes, likely leading to disruptions in care and payment delays, and many facilities around the country will experience revenue losses.  Finally, millions of patients, including many of our nation’s veterans, who rely on telehealth would suddenly be unable to access critical clinical services and medications.  The most acutely impacted would be individuals with behavioral health needs and rural patients.

Second, the end of the public health emergency will end the Title 42 policy at the border.  While the Administration has attempted to terminate the Title 42 policy and continues to support an orderly lifting of those restrictions, Title 42 remains in place because of orders issued by the Supreme Court and a district court in Louisiana.  Enactment of H.R. 382 would lift Title 42 immediately, and result in a substantial additional inflow of migrants at the Southwest border.  The number of migrants crossing the border has been cut in half, approximately, since the Administration put in place a plan in early January to deter irregular migration from Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Haiti.  The Administration supports an orderly, predictable wind-down of Title 42, with sufficient time to put alternative policies in place.  But if H.R. 382 becomes law and the Title 42 restrictions end precipitously, Congress will effectively be requiring the Administration to allow thousands of migrants per day into the country immediately without the necessary policies in place.

The Administration strongly opposes enactment of H.R. 382 and H.J. Res. 7, which would be a grave disservice to the American people.
* * * * * * *

 

This statement is online here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SAP-H.R.-382-H.J.-Res.-7.pdf

###

NACRHHS | Access to EMS in Rural Communities Policy Brief

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Government Affairs, Patient Care.

Access to Emergency Medical Services in Rural Communities: Policy Brief and Recommendations to the Secretary
Provides an overview of issues related to the provision of emergency medical services (EMS) in rural areas. Discusses rural EMS access, financing, and workforce challenges, as well as promising telehealth innovations. Outlines federal programs and resources that support EMS programs. Offers policy recommendations related to access to EMS, workforce, and reimbursement.

Download PDF

Source: HRSA via RuralHealthInfo.org

NAEMT 2022 National Report on Engagement and Satisfaction in EMS

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Human Resources, Recruitment & Retention.

From the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians
NAEMT is pleased to present the results of our 2022 National Survey on EMS Workforce Engagement and Satisfaction. Earlier this year, NAEMT asked our members and other EMS practitioners about various aspects of their jobs, including pay, how well supported they feel by employers, and if they had plans to leave the profession. In nearly 1,300 responses, EMS practitioners painted a picture of a workforce that remains dedicated to caring for patients and serving the community, but is under a high degree of strain. They also shared their ideas for how EMS agencies could improve engagement and satisfaction. We thank the following members of NAEMT’s EMS Workforce Committee for their contributions to the survey: Robert Luckritz, Aaron Florin, Garrett Hedeen, Julius Jackson, Lawson Stuart, Mark Ponder, Mike Szczygiel and Mike Thomas. NAEMT also thanks FirstNet, Built with AT&T, for its generous sponsorship of the report.

 

Read Report

Savvik | 5.11 Boots 25% off Retail

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in AAA HQ.

Cost Collection is coming. Is your organization prepared?

Join the workshop and stay tuned for more!

The Cost Collection workshops are also coming to

  • St. Charles, MO – February 8th, 2023
  • Little Rock, AR – February 9th, 2023
  • Oklahoma City, OK – February 15th, 2023
  • Myrtle Beach, SC – March 1st, 2023
  • Wilmington, NC – March 8th, 2023
  • North Canton, OH – March 25th, 2023

We’ll see you there!
ReNew BioMedical saves the life of live-saving equipment.

ReNew performs testing, maintenance, and repair on your life-saving equipment. Trust the skilled hands of their highly trained technicians to get the equipment you need working the way you need it to.

ReNew’s Offered Services:

  • Personal support for your staff, reducing your labor and training costs
  • Annual Preventive Maintenance (PM)
  • Teletech to get you in touch with an experienced biomedical tech
  • On-Site Service via their traveling depots that service the country
  • Access to an asset management portal, which allows you to track multiple outposts, regulate hundreds of units, schedule maintenance, track work orders, and much more
  • Free unit evaluation/estimate, and free return shipping after repairs
  • Each unit is serviced by a skilled and certified biomedical technician to ensure each unit meets factory and FDA specifications
  • Service includes documentation that satisfies regulatory reporting requirements
  • Access to a robust replacement part inventory and equipment rental program

Facebook
Linkedin
Youtube
Website

About us
Savvik is a non-profit formed to reduce financial impact within the Public Safety industry. Our mission is to provide members with a mechanism to achieve cost reductions – valuing quality supplies and equipment for members at the industry’s best prices.

GAPBAC Meeting Postponed

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Regulatory.

The first meeting (virtual) of the Ground Ambulance and Patient Billing Advisory Committee scheduled for January 17 and 18 has been postponed. According to CMS, the meeting is being postponed due to “operational impediments”. We will let you know the new dates for the meeting when announced by CMS.

Prehospital Emergency Care | 2022 Systematic Review of Evidence-Based Guidelines for Prehospital Care

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Operations, Patient Care.

From Prehospital Emergency Care

Introduction

Multiple national organizations and federal agencies have promoted the development, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based guidelines (EBGs) for prehospital care. Previous efforts have identified opportunities to improve the quality of prehospital guidelines and highlighted the value of high-quality EBGs to inform initial certification and continued competency activities for EMS personnel.

Objectives

We aimed to perform a systematic review of prehospital guidelines published from January 2018 to April 2021, evaluate guideline quality, and identify top-scoring guidelines to facilitate dissemination and educational activities for EMS personnel.

Methods

We searched the literature in Ovid Medline and EMBASE from January 2018 to April 2021, excluding guidelines identified in a prior systematic review. Publications were retained if they were relevant to prehospital care, based on organized reviews of the literature, and focused on providing recommendations for clinical care or operations. Included guidelines were appraised to identify if they met the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) criteria for high-quality guidelines and scored across the six domains of the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II tool.

Results

We identified 75 guidelines addressing a variety of clinical and operational aspects of EMS medicine. About half (n = 39, 52%) addressed time/life-critical conditions and 33 (44%) contained recommendations relevant to non-clinical/operational topics. Fewer than half (n = 35, 47%) were based on systematic reviews of the literature. Nearly one-third (n = 24, 32%) met all NAM criteria for clinical practice guidelines. Only 27 (38%) guidelines scored an average of >75% across AGREE II domains, with content relevant to guideline implementation most commonly missing.

Conclusions

This interval systematic review of prehospital EBGs identified many new guidelines relevant to prehospital care; more than all guidelines reported in a prior systematic review. Our review reveals important gaps in the quality of guideline development and the content in their publications, evidenced by the low proportion of guidelines meeting NAM criteria and the scores across AGREE II domains. Efforts to increase guideline dissemination, implementation, and related education may be best focused around the highest quality guidelines identified in this review.

Read Full Research Paper

Christian Martin-Gill, Kathleen M. Brown, Rebecca E. Cash, Rachel M. Haupt, Benjamin T. Potts, Christopher T. Richards, P. Daniel Patterson & for the Prehospital Guidelines Consortium (2022) 2022 Systematic Review of Evidence-Based Guidelines for Prehospital Care, Prehospital Emergency Care, DOI: 10.1080/10903127.2022.2143603

US Ambulances for Ukraine

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in AAA HQ, News, Press.

As we start the new year, US Ambulances for Ukraine continues to actively seek donated used ambulances from across the United States to send to Ukraine.  Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia on February 24, 2022, US Ambulances for Ukraine, in collaboration with the Ukrainian Consulate in Chicago has successfully delivered 18 American ambulances to Ukraine, many coming from members of the American Ambulance Association.  In addition, another 10 ambulances and one fire engine are sailing across the Atlantic Ocean and will soon be delivered to Ukraine.  Efforts are currently underway to make the next shipment of donated American ambulances the largest to date.  The goal is to secure 22 ambulances to be shipped in late January or early February, which would bring the total number of donated ambulances from the United States to 50.  If you have an ambulance that is mechanically sound that you are considering retiring or have one that isn’t needed anymore and would like to participate in this effort US Ambulances for Ukraine would love to hear from you.  This group has a proven track record of successfully delivering ambulances to hospitals, military units, NGOs, fire departments and other entities operating in Ukraine. The group also continuously updates donors during the process and provides photographic updates of the ambulances once they have been delivered.  Every donor knows exactly where their ambulance will be donated before it even leaves the United States.

The American Ambulance Association has followed the Twitter feed of US Ambulances for Ukraine @AmbulancesU and encourages you to do so as well.  There you can see the latest updates on their efforts and several images of donated American ambulances in action.  If you are interested in donating an ambulance or would like more information you can reach out to the founder of US Ambulances for Ukraine, Chris Manson, Vice President of Government Relations for OSF HealthCare at Christopher.M.Manson@osfhealthcare.org.  

2023 State Association Leadership Excellence Conference

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Events, State Association Leadership Excellence.

Learn More & Register Now!

Thursday, September 7, 2023 | 8:30am–4:00pm Eastern

Join fellow state-level ambulance and EMS association leaders for a day of networking and idea exchange at the inaugural State Association Leadership Excellence Conference! Share challenges, successes, and innovations with mobile healthcare leaders from across the country.

American Ambulance Association
State Association Leadership Excellence (SALE) Conference
September 7, 2023 | 8:30–16:00 ET
Niagara Falls USA Convention Center

Topics

Together, we will explore tactics for growing the reach and voice of your state association.

  • Advocacy Impact: Grassroots & Grasstops Engagement Case Studies
  • Medicaid Strategies (rate increases, crossovers)
  • Commercial Insurance Initiatives (balance billing, direct pay)
  • Medicaid Finance Initiatives (UPL / CPE / GEMT / Provider Assessments)
  • Workforce Shortage Strategies
  • Association Governance Tune-Up
  • Free and Cheap Tools to Enhance Your Branding & Reach
  • More! Full agenda coming soon.

Venue & Meals

Niagara Falls USA Convention Center
101 Old Falls Street
Niagara Falls, NY 14303

Continental breakfast, beverages, snacks, and lunch at the Convention Center are included in your registration fee.

Register Now!

Letter to VA Reimbursement of Ambulance Services

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Advocacy Priorities, Government Affairs, Medicare, Member Advisories, News, Reimbursement.

The AAA has sent a letter to VA Secretary Denis McDonough asking him to delay the implementation of a final rule that would allow the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reimburse at the lower of billable charges or Medicare rates for certain non-contracted ambulance services. The proposed rule was issued back in 2020 but we understand that the VA could now issue the final rule in January 2023. GMR has been advocating on Capitol Hill for a delay in air and ground ambulance services. The AAA will be issuing later today a request for AAA members to reach out to the VA to also request the delay.

 

December 12, 2022

The Honorable Denis McDonough
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20420

Dear Secretary McDonough,

The American Ambulance Association (AAA) respectfully requests that the Department delay release and implementation of the final rule on the “Change in Rates VA Pays for Special Modes of Transportation (RIN 2900-AP89).” Reimbursing for services to veterans at Medicare rates would have dire consequences for the ability of ground ambulance service organizations to provide lifesaving 9-1-1 emergency and also interfacility ambulance services not only to veterans but entire communities. We ask that the Department delay the rule until after Congress has had an opportunity to act on the results from the Medicare ambulance data collection system which is currently underway.

As documented by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in 2007 and 2012, the Medicare program reimburses ground ambulance service organizations below the cost of providing their services when temporary add-ons are not considered. Since 2012, the disparity between the cost of providing ambulance services and reimbursement by Medicare has only increased through sequestration cuts, a reduction in inflation updates, and other Medicare payment policy changes. Ground ambulance service organizations are already facing difficult financial straits and cannot
sustain a reduction in reimbursement from another federal payor.

Ground ambulance service organizations serve as the foundation for emergency medical response for veterans and communities throughout the country. Our members are a vital component of our local and national health care and 9-1-1 emergency response systems and serve as lifelines of medical care for many rural and underserved communities. However, our ability to continue to serve communities is already at risk due to inadequate reimbursement and access to care for veterans would be further jeopardized if the Department were to reimburse at lower levels for ground ambulance services.

The AAA is the primary association for ground ambulance service organizations, including governmental entities, volunteer services, private for-profit, private not-for-profit, and hospital-based ambulance services. Our members provide emergency and non-emergency medical transportation services to more than 75 percent of the U.S. population. AAA members serve
patients in all 50 states and provide services in urban, rural, and super-rural areas.

Again, we request that you delay the release and implementation of the final rule on the “Change in Rates VA Pays for Special Modes of Transportation”.

If you have any questions regarding our request, please do not hesitate to have a member of your staff contact AAA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tristan North. Tristan can be reached by phone at (202) 802-9025 or email at tnorth@ambulance.org.

Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Sincerely,

/AAA - AmerAmbAssoc Team Folder/Signatures/Baird, Shawn Signature.png
Shawn Baird
President

AAA President Baird Named to Balance Billing Advisory Committee

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Advocacy Priorities, Balance Billing, Government Affairs, Legislative, Regulatory, Reimbursement.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today appointed American Ambulance Association President Shawn Baird to the Ground Ambulance and Patient Billing Advisory Committee (GAPBAC), established by the Congress under “The No Surprises Act.” Shawn will represent the ground ambulance service provider and field personnel community.

 “I am honored to have the opportunity to serve,” stated Baird. “I look forward to representing the interests of EMS providers and professionals as they care for our communities.

 The Congress recognizes that the one-size-fits all approach to addressing surprise medical bills would not work for EMS. State and local governments regulate EMS agencies services and rates, as both first responders and medical care providers, which adds another level of complexity. As a result, the Congress established GAPBAC so the unique characteristics of ground ambulance services could be taken into consideration when evaluating private insurer billing policies to protect access to EMS, respect state and local government regulation, and protect patients.

 Patients with private insurance should not be caught in the middle when their insurers do not adequately reimburse for vital ground ambulance services,” said Baird. “EMS must receive fair reimbursement by insurance companies for providing critical medical services to patients.”

 Baird will bring to the Committee his years of firsthand experience and expertise as a paramedic and operator of an ambulance service in both urban and rural areas. He will also share knowledge gained from his years of volunteer leadership at the American Ambulance Association and the Oregon State Ambulance Association, as well as his term as an appointee to the National EMS Advisory Committee.

 The GAPBAC is charged with “reviewing options to improve the disclosure of charges and fees for ground ambulance services, better inform consumers of insurance options for such services, and protect consumers from balance billing.” The Committee will submit a report that includes recommendations with respect to disclosure of charges and fees for ground ambulance services and insurance coverage, consumer protection and enforcement authorities of the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury and State authorities, and the prevention of balance billing to consumers. The report must be received no later than 180 days after the date of its first meeting.

About the American Ambulance Association

The American Ambulance Association safeguards the future of mobile healthcare through advocacy, thought leadership, and education. AAA advances sustainable EMS policy, empowering our members to serve their communities with high-quality on-demand healthcare. For more than 40 years, we have proudly represented those who care for people first.

CMS Announces Providers Selected for Year 3 & 4 Cost Data Collection

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Cost Data Collection, Cost Survey, Regulatory.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Announces Year 3 and Year 4 Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System Selected Providers and Suppliers

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the ground ambulance suppliers and providers selected for Years 3 and 4 of the Medicare ground ambulance data collection system.  The list of the selected providers and suppliers is available on the CMS website.  These providers and suppliers will be asked to collect data during their budget year starting in 2023 and to report the data within five months of the close of that year.

Providers and suppliers who are selected should respond to the notification letter sent by Medicare Administrative Contractors (MAC).  Organizations may select a calendar year or fiscal year start date for the data collection period.  Data will be submitted for a continuous 12-month period using the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection Instrument: English (PDF).

The AAA continues to provide educational support for ground ambulance services to help them collect and report these data.  In addition to in-person sessions, the AAA offers webinars on demand.

It is important that all ground ambulance providers and suppliers collect and report data through this program.  The Congress intends to use the information to help reform Medicare ambulance fee schedule.

SAVVIK Foundation Study on Diversity in EMS

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in AAA HQ, Human Resources, Recruitment & Retention.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion in the emergency medical service community.

Delaware State University has teamed with the Savvik Foundation, a non-profit representing
emergency medical service (EMS) to assess equity within the EMS profession. We have created a tool to assess equity in the EMS profession.

Participants will be eligible to receive a $20 Amazon gift card upon completion of this survey. This information is confidential and anonymous. We will not be using your name in any publications regarding this process.

By responding to the questions, you are permitting us to use this information to guide
our recommendations and share our findings in articles.

If you have any questions regarding your participation in this study please contact the
principal investigator, Dr. Knolan Rawlins, at krawlins@desu.edu or Ms. Chanel Haman in
the Office of Sponsored Programs at 302.857.6834 or chaman@desu.edu.

Thank you,
Dr. Knolan Rawlins

Participate In Survey

NEMSAC Meeting November 1–2

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Regulatory.

EMS News

Register Now: National EMS Advisory Council Meeting November 2-3
The National EMS Advisory Council (NEMSAC) will host a hybrid meeting on Wednesday and Thursday, November 2-3, 2022. Members of the public are welcome to attend the meeting virtually.

Location: Grand Hyatt Hotel
1000 H St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Virtual webcast available

The NEMSAC meets several times each year to discuss issues facing the EMS community. Members of NEMSAC provide counsel and recommendations regarding EMS to the Federal Interagency Committee on EMS (FICEMS) and the Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOT) through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The Council meeting will be publicly webcasted beginning at 1:00 pm ET each day. Items on the agenda include:

  • Updates from Federal Partners in Emergency Medical Services
  • Updates from the FICEMS Chairperson
  • Subcommittee reports on advisories in progress
  • New advisory proposals
  • Public comment
  • Representative term discussions
  • New sector representative application solicitation period
Register Now

Registrants who wish to address the council during the public comment periods can submit comments in writing to NHTSA.NEMSAC@dot.gov by 12:00 pm ET on October 27, 2022. Questions and comments for the Council may also be presented using the live chat feature. Registrants will receive an email containing an access link to the meeting by 5:00 pm ET on November 1, 2022, and can contact Clary Mole at Clary.Mole@dot.gov for support if not yet received.

NHTSA is committed to providing equal access to this meeting for all program participants. Persons with disabilities in need of accommodation should send their request to Clary Mole by phone at (202) 868-3275 or by email to Clary.Mole@dot.gov no later than October 27, 2022. A sign language interpreter and closed captioning services can be provided through the WebEx virtual meeting platform upon request.

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Savvik |Ford Vehicles – 3 Day Order Window

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in AAA HQ, Member-Only, Operations.

The Ford order bank for Super Duty (F250-F600) will open for government orders on 11/7/2022 and will close on 11/10/2022.
This will be the only opportunity to order Super Duty for the entire 2023 model year using a Government Price Concession.
Our vendor understands that it will be challenging for some government customers to project there needs for the entire year, but unfortunately these are the parameters that Ford has set out for them.
Members that are interested in making a purchase during this window will have 30 days to send a purchase order after placing the order. If no PO is received then Ford will automatically cancel the order.
If the Savvik member happens to have a non-government Fleet Id Number (FIN), they can begin ordering 10/20/2022 and will have the ability to order up to 5 units per quarter.

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