AAA Membership Town Hall with Senator Bill Cassidy

Members-Only Exclusive Town Hall
Thursday, May 21, 2020 | 9:30am EST

Join U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA) for an exclusive members-only Virtual Town Hall Meeting on health care and COVID-19. Senator Cassidy will provide his perspective on the critical role of health care providers during the response to COVID-19. He will also offer insight into the direction the Senate is heading with regard to provider relief.

Senator Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA)

Dr. Bill Cassidy is the senior United States Senator for Louisiana.

Bill grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and attended Louisiana State University (LSU) for undergraduate and medical school. In 1990, Bill joined LSU Medical School teaching medical students and residents at Earl K. Long Hospital, a hospital for the uninsured.
During this time, he co-founded the Greater Baton Rouge Community Clinic, a clinic providing free dental and health care to the working uninsured. Bill also created a private-public partnership to vaccinate 36,000 greater Baton Rouge area children against Hepatitis B at no cost to the schools or parents. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Bill led a group of health care volunteers to convert an abandoned K-Mart building into an emergency health care facility, providing basic health care to hurricane evacuees.
In 2006, Bill was elected to the Louisiana State Senate.
In 2008, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives to represent Louisiana’s Sixth Congressional District.
In 2014, he was elected to the U.S. Senate. He serves on the Finance Committee, the Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions Committee, the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and the Veterans Affairs committees.
Bill is married to Dr. Laura Cassidy and they have three children. Laura is a retired general surgeon specializing in breast cancer. She helped found a public charter school to teach children with dyslexia. Bill, Laura, and their family attend church at the Chapel on the Campus.

Auto Parts Settlement: Ends June 18!

Auto Parts Settlement Deadline Extended to June 18. Act  Now to  Ensure You Aren’t Left Out!

AAA and Class Action Refund are pleased to announce that we have partnered to assist members in the Automotive Parts Settlement. As you may know, there is a class action lawsuit pending in the U.S. alleging that dozens of parts manufacturers conspired to fix, maintain, and artificially raise the price of motor vehicle component parts. As a result of the defendants’ alleged conduct, businesses and consumers who purchased or leased new vehicles (not for resale) containing those parts or who indirectly purchased replacement parts (not for resale) from the Defendants may have paid more than they should have. The proposed settlement provides $1.2 Billion in settlement funds to purchasers and lessees for qualified vehicles from 1990 to 2019 in the qualified states below.

Arizona
Arkansas
California
District of Columbia
Florida
Hawaii
Iowa
Kansas
Maine
Massachusetts
Michigan

Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina

North Dakota
Oregon
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Utah
Vermont
West Virginia
Wisconsin

Class Action Refund has developed certain proprietary software that identifies the parts eligible for refund from your leased vehicle VIN numbers. They are well qualified to make sure that you obtain the maximum restitution that you are entitled to receive under the settlement. Class Action Refund has over 17 years of experience in managing complex claims, specializes in the recovery of antitrust settlements for businesses and can ease the burden of self-filing. Please understand that the life cycle of a claim can take several years to settle and may require various types of documentation and correspondence with the settlement claims administrator in order to substantiate the claim. Class Action Refund will manage the entire filing process and inform you of milestones as necessary, so that you may stay focused on your core business.

Additionally, there are NO OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS TO AAA MEMBERS. Class Action Refund will reduce its normal 33% contingency fee of funds recovered to 25% for AAA members. If no recovery is made, then no fee is charged.

Any member interested in availing themselves of Class Action Refund’s recovery management services, for the Automotive Parts Settlement can quickly and easily sign up by entering this URL into their browser: https://info.classactionrefund.com/112.

Complete the Short Sign-Up Form

Mr. Hugh Bellingreri, Account Manager, is the contact person for AAA members. Please call Hugh directly at 914-630-5116 or you can reach him by email at hbellingreri@classactionrefund.com with any questions.

COVID-19 First Responder Discounts

Please see below for some of the discounts and special offers open to EMS. AAA will add to this list as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Many of these offers require verification of employment status.

Please be sure to visit  www.shop.ID.me and SheerID for thousands of additional offers for first responders!

Restaurants & Coffee Shops

Grocery Stores & Drug Stores

  • Costco | Priority access for first responders.
  • Walgreens | 20–30% off on April 25

Hotels & Lodging

Tech & Telecom

  • AT&T FirstNet |  Public safety agencies on FirstNet can get premium FirstNet Ready™ smartphone devices for free
  • DISH TV | Discounts and first monthly movie rental free.
  • Samsung | Free repairs for Samsung phones, including cracked screens and battery replacement.
  • Samsung | Employee discount for first responders.
  • Verizon |  Assorted first responder discounts.

Clothing, Shoes, & PPE

Transportation & Fuel

  • BP  |  50 cents off per gallon with  ID.me verification.
  • Lyft Scooters | Free in select areas.

Home & Household

  • Lovesac | 40% off  through May 31
  • Blanquil  | 50% off weighted blankets
  • Purple |  10% off your order (no end date)

EMS Week Featured Service Application

EMS Week will take place from May 17–23, 2020.  To celebrate the extraordinary contributions of ambulance services to the communities they serve, we will be featuring specific services throughout EMS week on AAA’s website and social media.

If you would like to apply to have your service featured, please complete and submit all fields below by May 7. Thank you for your service to your community!

 

 

 

New Benefit: Kindercare Discount & Priority Placement

AAA understands that EMS staff often experience significant challenges securing quality, reliable childcare, and that these challenges have been exacerbated by school and daycare closures caused by COVID-19. We are here to help!

The American Ambulance Association is proud to share that we have partnered with Kindercare to offer EMS providers priority childcare placement as well as a 10% discount on tuition. Please share this information with your staff! Visit www.kindercare.com/aaa for full details.

Kindercare Locations

AAA member employee families receive priority placement at all 1600 Kindercare centers, including the 400 Essential Care Centers that remain open during the pandemic.

Childcare Services & Age Range

AAA member employees save 10% on full-time, part-time, and drop-in tuition for children ages six weeks to 12 years at any KinderCare Learning Center or Champions before- and after-school sites nationwide.

Existing  Kindercare Families

This offer is available to new families as well as those already enrolled in a participating center.

Tuition Discount Guide

  1. Search for a center or site that is near you (Search Essential Centers Open During COVID-19 | Search All Centers, Including Those Currently Closed)
  2. Schedule a tour of the center or site online or by phone with the center information provided.
  3. When you enroll (or if you’re already enrolled), let your Center Director know you are a member of American Ambulance Association and that you are eligible for a 10% tuition benefit.
  4. Your Center Director will apply the discount on your next billing cycle.

 

Auto Part Settlement: Act Now!

Auto Parts Settlement Deadline Extended. Act  Now to  Ensure You Aren’t Left Out!

AAA and Class Action Refund are pleased to announce that we have partnered to assist members in the Automotive Parts Settlement. As you may know, there is a class action lawsuit pending in the U.S. alleging that dozens of parts manufacturers conspired to fix, maintain, and artificially raise the price of motor vehicle component parts. As a result of the defendants’ alleged conduct, businesses and consumers who purchased or leased new vehicles (not for resale) containing those parts or who indirectly purchased replacement parts (not for resale) from the Defendants may have paid more than they should have. The proposed settlement provides $1.2 Billion in settlement funds to purchasers and lessees for qualified vehicles from 1990 to 2019 in the qualified states below.

Arizona
Arkansas
California
District of Columbia
Florida
Hawaii
Iowa
Kansas
Maine
Massachusetts
Michigan

Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina

North Dakota
Oregon
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Utah
Vermont
West Virginia
Wisconsin

Class Action Refund has developed certain proprietary software that identifies the parts eligible for refund from your leased vehicle VIN numbers. They are well qualified to make sure that you obtain the maximum restitution that you are entitled to receive under the settlement. Class Action Refund has over 17 years of experience in managing complex claims, specializes in the recovery of antitrust settlements for businesses and can ease the burden of self-filing. Please understand that the life cycle of a claim can take several years to settle and may require various types of documentation and correspondence with the settlement claims administrator in order to substantiate the claim. Class Action Refund will manage the entire filing process and inform you of milestones as necessary, so that you may stay focused on your core business.

Additionally, there are NO OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS TO AAA MEMBERS. Class Action Refund will reduce its normal 33% contingency fee of funds recovered to 25% for AAA members. If no recovery is made, then no fee is charged.

Any member interested in availing themselves of Class Action Refund’s recovery management services, for the Automotive Parts Settlement can quickly and easily sign up by entering this URL into their browser: https://info.classactionrefund.com/112.

Complete the Short Sign-Up Form

Mr. Hugh Bellingreri, Account Manager, is the contact person for AAA members. Please call Hugh directly at 914-630-5116 or you can reach him by email at hbellingreri@classactionrefund.com with any questions.

AAA/NAEMT Request PSOB Coverage for All Medics During COVID-19

On April 9, the AAA and the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General William Barr requesting the Department of Justice extend coverage under the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) program to all paramedics and EMTs during the COVID-19 national health emergency. While paramedics and EMTs employed by governmental and non-profit EMS agencies are currently eligible for the program, those employed by private for-profit organizations and on the front lines of responding to COVID-19 pandemic are not covered. Read Letter HERE.

Savvik: Genlantis Ozilla Sterilization System

Through Savvik’s partnership with Genlantis, we are able to offer this unique unit that could be vital to your members.  This is not cheap to purchase, but if you look at the cost (and limited availability) of protection equipment this starts to make financial sense.  The base cost of the Ozilla $4,799 plus packing and freight.   The optional NEST unit runs $2,059.  With the size and weight of the shipping unit  (36x33x32) , we will need to quote the total delivered based on units and location.  The quote link is below.

Lead time is 2-3 weeks.

http://go.savvik.com/Ozilla.html

Ozone is the most powerful oxidative agent that occurs naturally. With its extra free radical oxygen molecule, ozone is able to destroy germs, viruses, and microbes that may cause surface or air contaminations. Furthermore, ozone leaves no chemical residue typical of alternative detergent or synthetic cleaners, and if handled properly, by converting ozone back to oxygen molecules, it can be one of the most effective sterilizing tools. Ozone is a powerful and natural purifier, and now with the Ozilla® Ozone Sterilizer, Genlantis has made it safer and easier than ever to use ozone gas for multiple sterilization applications.

The Genlantis Ozilla® Sterilization System is a high quality, compact and purpose-built ozone gas generator measuring 13 x 11 x 5 inches. When used properly, it is able to eliminate airborne and surface contaminants and germs. The Ozilla sterilizer is easy and safe to use and has a novel -scrubbing- technology that removes all ozone gases at the end of each sterilization cycle, by converting ozone gas back to oxygen.  As an added advantage, the Ozilla air sterilizer will leave your room or cabinet odor-free and smelling fresh, clean, and ready for your next usage.

AAA Sends Letter to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin on Paycheck Protection Program

Earlier today, the AAA sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin asking that he use his discretionary authority to apply the same terms of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to ambulance service organizations with 500 or more employees. The PPP, established by the CARES Act, is only available to businesses with 500 or fewer employees and provides more favorable loan terms based on the retention of employees. Read the letter HERE.

CMMI Delays ET3 Pilot Program Until Fall

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) has announced the delay of the start of the ET3 Model Pilot Program. CMMI has delayed the program until the fall of this year. The program was set to begin on May 1. In its notice, CMMI also referenced the interim final rule providing waivers for transport to alternative destinations and other regulatory flexibility previously reported by the AAA.

ET3 Model Timeline Delay and Important Updates

ET3 Model Stakeholders,

Thank you for your engagement to date related to the ET3 Model. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking to support the community of organizations that are responding to the public health emergency stemming from the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). As CMS and ET3 Model selected applicants work to respond to needs due to COVID-19, CMS has decided to delay the start of the ET3 Model from May 1, 2020 until Fall 2020.

CMS appreciates your continued support and enthusiasm for the innovations available under the ET3 Model, and as such, we will continue to communicate information and updates about the Model through this listserv.

Important Updates Regarding CMS Flexibilities to Fight COVID-19

In addition, we want to inform ET3 Model stakeholders that CMS recently announced in a press release an Interim Final Rule with Comment Period (IFC) that provides temporary regulatory waivers and new rules to equip the American healthcare system with maximum flexibility to respond to the 2019 COVID-19 pandemic. The IFC and all of CMS’s Coronavirus Waivers & Flexibilities can be found here.

The flexibilities offered specifically to ambulances during the Public Health Emergency (PHE) for the COVID-19 pandemic can be found at this link: Ambulances (PDF). This includes temporarily expanding the list of allowable destinations for ground ambulance transports during the COVID-19 PHE to include any destination that is equipped to treat the condition of the patient in a manner consistent with state and local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) protocols in use where the services are being furnished. These destinations may include, but are not limited to: any location that is an alternative site determined to be part of a hospital, CAH or SNF, community mental health centers, federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), rural health clinics (RHCs), physician’s offices, urgent care facilities, ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs), any location furnishing dialysis services outside of the ESRD facility when an ESRD facility is not available, and the beneficiary’s home. Home may be an appropriate destination for a COVID-19 patient who is discharged from the hospital to home to be under quarantine. There must be a medically necessary ground ambulance transport of a patient in order for an ambulance service to be covered.

These actions, and earlier CMS actions in response to COVID-19, are part of the ongoing White House Coronavirus Task Force efforts. To keep up with the important work the Task Force is doing in response to COVID-19, visit www.coronavirus.gov. For a complete and updated list of CMS actions, and other information specific to CMS, please visit the Current Emergencies website.

Thank you again for your interest in the Model and for your efforts to improve the quality of care in the EMS industry.

If you have any questions about this update, please contact the ET3 Model team at ET3Model@cms.hhs.gov.

Follow CMS and the CMS Innovation Center on Twitter at @CMSGov and @CMSinnovates.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has sent this Emergency Triage, Treat, and Transport (ET3) Model Update. To contact Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) go to our contact us page.

HEROES Act – Tax Free Income for Paramedics and EMTs

On April 3, Congressman Bill Huizenga (R-MI) introduced the Helping Emergency Responders Overcome Emergency Situations Act of 2020 “HEROES Act of 2020” (H.R. 6433). H.R. 6433 would exclude from gross income, the wages (not to exceed $50,000) from February 15 to June 15 of qualified first responders. Those wages would therefore essentially be tax-free. A definition of a qualified first responder specifically includes paramedics and EMTs who provide services in a county with at least one confirmed case of COVID-19. The language would apply to all paramedics and EMTs regardless of their employer type. The AAA had reached out prior to the introduction of the bill to staff with Congressman Huizenga to ensure that would be the case.

AAA Sends Letter to HHS on COVID-19 Response

On April 6, the AAA sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Azar requesting that the Department distribute direct payments to all ambulance service providers and suppliers who are on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. The AAA requested funding under the $100 Billion Public Health and Social Service Emergency Fund, established by the CARES Act, in the amount of $48,000 per ambulance registered as of April 1. The AAA estimates the payments would represent approximately $2.6 billion in desperately-needed relief for our industry. Read the letter HERE.

AAA Sends Letter to CMS on COVID-19 Response

The AAA has sent a letter to CMS on how the agency can most help ground ambulance service providers and suppliers be better prepared to respond to potential cases of COVID-19. The AAA has requested priority access to personal protection equipment for EMS personnel and COVID-19 test kits and results, as well as easing Medicare and Medicaid policies on alternative destinations and treatment in place. The letter was also sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR). Read the letter HERE.

Read the Letter

President signs law providing funds to combat Corona Virus

President Donald Trump today signed H.R. H.R. 6074 into law, approving $8.3 billion in supplemental appropriations to fund programs in response to the COVID-19 illness. The bill would bolster vaccine development, research, equipment stockpiles, and state and local health budgets as government officials and health workers fight to contain the outbreak, which has claimed 11 lives in the U.S. and sickened more than 160 people across more than a dozen states.

The AAA advocated to negotiators of the bill that first responders needed to be included in the funding package and that all communities be eligible for the funding. Due in part to our outreach, the emergency funding provides a transfer of no less than $10 million to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences for worker-based training aimed at preventing exposure of the virus to emergency first responders, and others at risk of exposure (i.e., hospital employees).

The supplemental also appropriates $1 billion for state and local preparedness, which will allow state and local governments to carry out preparedness and response activities, with each State receiving a minimum of $4 million. Of the $1 billion, $300 million is allocated for global disease detection and emergency response, and FY 2019 Public Health Emergency Preparedness grantees.

AAA Releases 2020 Medicare Rate Calculator

AAA 2020 Medicare Rate Calculator Now Available!

The American Ambulance Association is pleased to announce the release of its 2020 Medicare Rate Calculator tool. The AAA believes this is a valuable tool that can assist members in budgeting for the coming year. This calculator has been updated to account for recent changes in Medicare policies, including the 2020 Ambulance Inflation Factor (0.9%) and the continuation of the current temporary add-ons.

To access the Rate Calculator, please CLICK HERE.

2020 calculator

Member Advisory: CMMI Releases Initial List of ET3 Participants

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMMI) has released its initial list of applicants selected to participate in the ET3 pilot program. CMMI notes that the list is not final as it still needs to execute participation agreements with the applicants. CMMI will issue a final list once it completes the process.

Applicants from 36 states and the District of Columbia were selected to participate in the program. Approximately 200 applicants were approved with instances in which the same ambulance service organization submitted applications for multiple counties as well as more than one organization submitting an application for the same county. CMMI has sent notifications to each of the applicants letting them know to expect a follow up email with the partnership agreement, program guidance and additional details.

The ET3 program is a five-year voluntary pilot program designed to test the potential benefit to the Medicare program and patients of ambulance service providers and suppliers furnishing treatment in place as well as transport to alternative destinations. For more information about the ET3 program, please go the ET3 website.

House Committees Consider Balance Billing Proposals

This past Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, the House Ways & Means and Education & Labor Committees marked up their proposals on balance or “surprise” billing. As we reported on Monday of this week, the Ways & Means Committee proposal, the Consumer Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills Act (H.R. 5826), did not include a provision on ground ambulance services. The House Education & Labor proposal, The Ban Surprise Billing Act (H.R. 5800), however, included a provision to create a federal advisory committee to recommend restrictions on the ability of ground ambulance service providers and suppliers to balance bill.

The Ways & Means Committee reported out H.R 5826 favorably by voice vote. While the Education & Labor Committee also reported out H.R. 5800 favorably, the vote was 30 to 13 as a block of its Committee members preferred the approach of the Ways & Means proposal on how to address balance billing for other providers. It is now up to House leadership to determine next steps on how the chamber will approach a final package on balance billing.

While H.R. 5800 as reported out by the Education & Labor Committee still includes the provision on ground ambulance services, Chairman Scott (D-VA) and Ranking Member Foxx (R-NC) prior to mark up had removed the most problematic language in the bill. As introduced, H.R. 5800 would have given the Department of Health and Human Services the authority to issue regulations to restrict balance billing based on the findings of the advisory committee. This would have eliminated federal lawmakers from being able to evaluate the recommendations prior to the changes being implemented. The language was removed in the chairman’s mark of the bill, and thus the Congress would now have an opportunity to debate and craft legislation on the recommendations.

The AAA along with the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) and National Association of EMTs (NAEMT) had advocated against the ground ambulance provision. We thank Chairman Scott, Ranking Member Foxx and members of the Committee for listening to our concerns and removing the regulation authority language.

Only one of the four pieces of legislation on balance billing reported out by congressional committees includes a provision on ground ambulance services. We will continue to advocate to preserve the ability of local governments to determine the rates and standards for their EMS systems and against the inclusion of a ground ambulance provision in a final package on balance billing.

We will keep you apprised of new developments on the issue.

CMS Posts 2020 Public Use File

On December 2, 2019, CMS posted the 2020 Ambulance Fee Schedule Public Use Files. These files contain the amounts that will be allowed by Medicare in calendar year 2020 for the various levels of ambulance service and mileage. These allowables reflect a 0.9% inflation adjustment over the 2018 rates.

The 2020 Ambulance Fee Schedule Public Use File can be downloaded from the CMS website by clicking here.

Unfortunately, CMS has elected in recent years to release its Public Use Files without state and payment locality headings. As a result, in order to look up the rates in your service area, you would need to know the CMS contract number assigned to your state. This is not something the typical ambulance service would necessarily have on hand. For this reason, the AAA has created a reformatted version of the CMS Medicare Ambulance Fee Schedule, which includes the state and payment locality headings. AAA members can access this reformatted fee schedule at the link below.

2020 Ambulance Fee Schedule▶

 

Cost Data Collection: So You’ve Been Selected—Now What?

It’s finally here! For almost a decade the American Ambulance Association has been preparing for this moment: collecting cost data in order to justify the reimbursement inadequacies of our current payment system. As Benjamin Franklin stated, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” So prepare we did!

Our research indicated that due to industry capacity, a provider sample and survey approach would be preferable to a mandatory cost reporting structure. Congress agreed! Our research indicated that different organizational structures made us unique healthcare providers and as such, EMS’s special nature should be considered in the collection tool developed. Congress agreed! No one knows our industry better than we do and the final rule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services indicates they listened!

So your ambulance service was selected for the 2020 reporting period—now what? Here is your 10 STEP PLAN.

STEP 1: Sign up for the latest information on ambulance cost data collection.

Subscribe to email updates from the American Ambulance Association’s Ambulance Cost Education page, www.ambulancereports.org. Not only will we make sure you get the latest information disclosed from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, but we will also provide you with quick tutorials on how to fill out the cost data collection instrument. Most importantly, you can purchase AMBER! This software provides an easy, quick solution for you to input your data, with built-in tutorials to walk you through the data collection process.

STEP 2: Know what is included in your National Provider Identification (NPI) number.

It is important that you review the information in the Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System (PECOS) which supports the Medicare Provider and Supplier enrollment process. You will want to make sure the information that you provide in the cost data collection tool, at a minimum, matches what is in this system or on your CMS 855B Medicare enrollment application. Pay close attention to the following:

  1. Practice location(s)
  2. Vehicle Information
  3. Ownership

STEP 3: “Tele” a Friend!

More than 2,600 ambulance suppliers and providers were selected for the 2020 reporting period (Zip file download of services selected for 2020). Please reach out to your colleagues. Now is not the time to let competition or friendly rivalries stop us from communicating best practices. Call your fellow mobile healthcare providers!

STEP 4: Know your accounting “status.”

How you recognize cost and revenue will be extremely important in determining how you report. Cash accounting recognizes revenue and expenses only  when money actually exchanges hands. Accrual accounting recognizes revenue and expenses when billed, not when money exchanges hands. This status will be key in determining how you report costs and revenues.

STEP 5: Know your mileage.

For every ambulance and non-ambulance vehicle that you use related to patient care, you will need to know the odometer readings at the beginning and end of 2020. Make sure you have a system to record the odometer readings accurately.

For example, you have a 2016 ambulance where the odometer reading on 1/1/2020 is 10,212. If on 12/31/2020 the odometer reading is 74,112, you will have the option of recording the full mileage of 63,900 in the data collection tool. This is another window into the “cost of readiness.”

STEP 6: Set up and Identify payer categories.

As identified by the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System (PDF download), there are nine payer type categories for billing ambulance transportation. Know these categories and set them up in your system now, prior to billing for ambulance transports in 2020. If you use a billing agency, seek confirmation that they have a way to identify these nine payer types. You may not have select reports to identify the numbers yet within these categories but that can be set up later in the reporting year.

Setting up your system NOW to identify these payer categories is critical as it will be too administratively burdensome to fix this retroactively.

STEP 7: Know if you share support services or stand alone.

Support services are services such as maintenance, dispatch, billing, materials management, human resources and other services that support patient care. You will need to know if you share these services with other entities such as fire, police, air ambulance, hospital or other entity not related to ground ambulance care.

If you share, then you will have to work out an allocation model to assign the costs and revenue appropriately. If you do not share support services, then you do not need to work about any of the questions related to allocation.

STEP 8: Identify sources of revenue and cost categories.

Check your systems. Now is the time to make sure you can identify all sources of revenue you receive whether from billing for an ambulance transport or from a grant or local tax. Understand your costs, especially those related to salary, vehicles, facilities and medical supplies. That is the first step in the ability to categorize appropriately.

STEP 9: Don’t panic!

Take a deep breath—It is not as complicated as it may seem. There are resources available and assistance for you and your ambulance services as outlined in STEP 1.

STEP 10: Repeat Step 1!

See, that wasn’t too bad, was it? Now you have a 10 Step Plan!

In all seriousness, while it may seem a bit daunting at first, breaking down the cost data collection process into small steps will ensure that our industry is prepared and the figures we enter into this cost data collection tool will glean useful information. It is imperative that we get this right the first time to avoid any unintended consequences, such as decreased reimbursements and other impactful changes that could harm the patients we serve.

As the saying goes, “the rising tide lifts all boats.” More than ever, we need to help and assist our colleagues as we navigate this new world of ambulance reimbursement.

So, what’s next? Cost data collection, my friend! Jump on board.

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