OIG Releases SemiAnnual Report to Congress

Written by AAA Staff on June 5, 2017. Posted in News, Regulatory.

The Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS-OIG) recently issued the “Measuring Compliance Program Effectiveness: A Resource Guide“. The Guide was developed by a group of HHS-OIG professionals who wanted to provide a set of metrics by which health care providers can measure the elements of their compliance program. The authors recognize that not all the metrics are applicable to all health care providers but intended to be used as a guide. The Guide was released on March 27.

You can also read the full “Semiannual Report to Congress (October 1, 2016 – March 31, 2017)“.

Alabama Governor Signs REPLICA Compact

Written by AAA Staff on June 2, 2017. Posted in News, Operations, Press.

Governor Kay Ivey recently signed into law Alabama’s REPLICA legislation, HB250. Alabama joins ten other states—Colorado, Texas, Virginia, Idaho, Kansas, Tennessee, Utah, Wyoming, Mississippi, and Georgia—in this forward-thinking interstate compact.

REPLICA, the Recognition of EMS Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact, recognizes the day-to-day movement of EMS personnel across state lines. It extends the privilege to practice under authorized circumstances to EMS personnel based on their home state license, as well as allows for the rapid exchange of licensure history between Compact member states..

Learn more about how REPLICA participation can help your state at http://www.emsreplica.org.

EMS Week Contest Winners Announced

Written by AAA Staff on June 1, 2017. Posted in Events, News.

EMS professionals across the country recently celebrated EMS Week, held May 21-27, by hosting a variety of activities, memorials and both fun-filled and informative events. The AAA asked our members to tell us about some of their favorite ways they honored and celebrated their profession throughout the week, and we have selected three stories as our EMS Week contest winners. Here are some of the highlights:

LifeCare Medical Transports (Fredericksburg, VA): “This year’s EMS Week began with us honoring those who gave their lives so that others might live, at our National EMS Memorial Service. On Sunday, May 21, we co-hosted the EMS Service Cyclists for a dinner on their stop in Fredericksburg, VA. The remainder of the week consisted of fun yet educational online EMS Challenges each day, with participants being entered into raffles for great prizes. All employees received a letter from our leadership, as well as EMS gift bags.”

Armstrong Ambulance Service (Arlington, MA): “We love celebrating our employees every year with a week-long celebration of EMS Week. We annually begin the week with breakfast catered to the bases. This year, we brought carnival food trucks to the bases for a catered lunch of fair food favorites, including hot dogs, hamburgers, sausages and fried dough. On Friday, an ice cream truck visited the bases with sweet treats!

One of our favorite traditions is our EMS Week scavenger hunt. Field crews are given a list of tasks that allow them to interact with our community and that they must complete within 12 hours. The submissions are always hilarious! Throughout the week, we also hold various giveaways for local concerts, Red Sox games and gift certificates.”

McGregor Memorial EMS (Durham, NH): During the week, preschoolers and parents participated in the educational “Boo-Boo Bus” activity, in which children placed band-aids on teddy bears, and kids also participated in several coloring activities.

We also do “CPR on the Street,” in which we set up a tent and table with educational materials on CPR, and we have several mannequins that the public can use to learn “hands-only” CPR.

Finally, there is a volunteer-created place mat that we distributed to local restaurants. We distributed 600 place mats and crayons that were full of informational tidbits, as well as coloring areas and a maze puzzle.”

Thank you to all those who participated, and congratulations to our winners!

HHS to Administer $70 million in Funds to Combat Opioid Crisis

Written by AAA Staff on June 1, 2017. Posted in Drugs & Pharma, Emergency Preparedness, Field Resources, News, Patient Care.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced $70 million in grants to help communities and health care professionals combat the ongoing opioid crisis that is ravaging communities across the U.S. The majority of the money will be used to help prevent opioid-induced deaths and to provide treatment for people with opioid use disorders, including $28 million allotted for medication-based treatment. More than 33,000 lives were claimed in 2015 due to opioid overdoses.

$41.7 million of the funding is set to expand resources and training for first responders on how to use emergency treatments, such as Narcan, to help reverse and treat overdoses. In many cases, first responders are often the difference between life and death for opioid users who experience an overdose, so it is imperative health care professionals have access to the needed resources and training to help save lives. The additional funding aims to help paramedics, EMTs and other emergency service personnel gain access to much-needed resources.

“The grants we announce today clearly demonstrate our efforts to meet the opioid crisis with every tool at our disposal,” said Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Kana Enomoto. “The evidence-based training, medication, and behavioral therapies provided here will save lives and help people with addictions start a path toward reaching their potential.”

In addition to the most recent grants, $485 million in grants were awarded in April to treat and prevent opioid abuse.

To read more about the grants, please visit the HHS web site.

In Memory of Lahiri Garcia & Paul Besaw (AMR Palm Beach/Broward)

Written by AAA Staff on June 1, 2017. Posted in Community, News, Press.

The American Ambulance Association was deeply saddened to learn that Lahiri Garcia (51) and Paul Besaw (36) were killed on June 1 in the line of duty. Both were longstanding and respected team members at AMR Palm Beach/Broward County in Florida.

In an interview with WPTV, AMR Regional Director Bill Hall said, “The AMR family has lost two amazing people. They were dedicated husbands, fathers, friends and teammates. Our thoughts are with both families during this difficult time. Lahiri and Paul will be greatly missed. Garcia and Besaw were committed to caring for others, and together they had nearly 40 years of service for AMR and the community.”

“Thank you all for your kind thoughts and sentiments during the past few days. This week, we celebrate the lives of our fallen colleagues, Paul Besaw and Lahiri Garcia, who tragically lost their lives in an unfortunate ambulance accident last Thursday morning,” said Terance Ramotar, regional director of AMR. “These two gentleman have dedicated their lives to the EMS profession and we are preparing a tribute on Thursday to honor their service.”

A processional, followed by funeral services, is scheduled for Thursday, June 8, 2017, at Courtyard Gardens of Jupiter, FL, located at 1790 Indian Creek Drive West, Jupiter, FL. The staging will be on Indian Creek Drive West, and the processional will begin at approximately 9 a.m. The processional ends at Christ Fellowship Church (5343 Northlake Blvd, Palm Beach Gardens, FL), where formal funeral services for Besaw and Garcia are to be held.

The AAA extends its deepest condolences to the Garcia and Besaw families, as well as their friends and colleagues.

CSU Bakersfield Honors Harvey L. Hall with Honorary Doctorate

Written by AAA Staff on May 25, 2017. Posted in News, Press.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hall Ambulance News Release
Contact: Mark Corum, Director of Media Services
(661) 322-8741 | Cell (661) 334-0996
May 24, 2017

Hall Ambulance Service, Inc. Founder and President Harvey L. Hall was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) degree, conferred in the names of the California State University and California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) at the spring 2017 commencement on May 19. An honorary doctorate is CSUB’s highest honor.

The presentation was made by CSUB President Horace Mitchell, Ph.D., who stated, “Harvey Hall’s support for CSUB and our community is upfront and unwavering. The criteria established for awarding the honorary doctorate include distinction in the nominee’s chosen field of endeavor, widely recognized eminence, and demonstrated values consistent with those of higher education and the highest ideals of the chosen field. Harvey Hall embodies, exemplifies, and exceeds those criteria.”

Hall is a longtime supporter of CSUB. In 2014, President Mitchell presented then-Mayor Hall with the CSUB President’s Award for his leadership, commitment, and service to the University and the community. In 2010, the CSUB School of Business and Public Administration Executive Advisory Council honored then-Mayor Hall with the prestigious John Brock Community Service Award for his strong record of exemplary community engagement and service.

Widely esteemed as a pioneer of emergency medical transportation services in California, his Company, Hall Ambulance Service, Inc. is the 9-1-1 paramedic provider for 88% of Kern County’s population which includes the incorporated cities of Bakersfield, Arvin, Taft, Shafter, Wasco, Tehachapi, California City, and the communities of Lamont, Frazier Park, Mojave, Rosamond, and Boron. Hall Critical Care Transport provides both ground and air CCT service from San Francisco, to San Diego.

The prestigious recognition was a cornerstone moment for Hall. In his honorary doctorate statement, he remarked, “We all strive to make a difference in humanity but sometimes wonder about our individual contribution. You never know what the catalyst will be that changes your life. Mine came in 1960 in the form of a dare to go on an ambulance ride along. From that moment forward, I made it my life’s work to respond to people in need and treat them with dignity and pride through exemplary service.”

His commitment carried on when Hall was entrusted by the people of Bakersfield to serve as their 25th mayor for 16-years—the longest in the city’s history. Affectionately known as Mr. Bakersfield, he has been a leading advocate for quality of life, beautification, serving as a mayor for all of the people under the belief of building unity in our community.

During his tenure, Hall presented 1,836 proclamations, issued, 10,750 certificates of appreciation, welcomed new business with 958 ribbon cuttings and 91 ground breakings, delivered 981 speeches, 469 welcomes, including 452 foreign visitors. “Nothing made me happier than to celebrate the accomplishments, celebrations, and achievements of Bakersfield’s residents,” Hall said.

His desire to be inclusive reached across borders and oceans through his work with the Bakersfield Sister City Project Corporation to establish relationships with Queretaro, Mexico; Bucheon, Republic of South Korea; and, Amritsar, India.

Hall’s commitment to Bakersfield’s youth was evidenced through the donation of his entire mayor’s salary to fund the Mayor Harvey L. Hall Scholarship Fund, which awarded $253,000 in financial aid to 297 students.

“I have devoted a lifetime to serving the people and city that I care so passionately about,” said Hall, “The conferment of this honorary degree from our state’s university system provides me clarity for a job well done.”

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EMS Week 2017

Written by AAA Staff on May 22, 2017. Posted in Events, News.

43rd Annual EMS Week
“Always In Service”
May 21–27, 2017

Each year, EMS Week celebrates the contributions of EMTs, Paramedics, Dispatchers, and other EMS professionals to their communities. Thank you for your service!

“The American Ambulance Association is committed to representing EMS across the United States. We work tirelessly to ensure that ambulance services receive sustainable levels of reimbursement, empowering them to continue to deliver the
highest quality patient care. EMS Strong offers AAA the opportunity to collaborate with other EMS-focused organizations to bring attention to our shared goals. Together, we are even stronger.”
Mark Postma
President, American Ambulance Association

AAA 2017 EMS Week Contest

The AAA wants to know what you are doing this EMS Week. Share the great events you have planned and be sure to tag the AAA in your EMS Week Social Media posts!

EMS Week Activity Survey

New for 2017, EMS Week is proud to announce themes for each day of the week.

Monday: “Education Day” to highlight both public education programs and EMS provider education
Tuesday: “Safety Tuesday” to promote Safety for the EMS provider, the patient, and the public;
Wednesday: “EMS for Children Day” to highlight the special needs of caring for children;
Thursday: “Save-A-Life Day” to promote “Stop the Bleed” citizen bleeding control education, “Until Help Arrives” active bystander training, public CPR programs, and other related education programs;
Friday is “EMS Recognition Day” to recognize your local EMS heroes and those saves by the EMS system.

Learn more on the ACEP EMS Week page.

CMS – MLN Ambulance Transports Booklet

Written by David Werfel on May 16, 2017. Posted in Medicaid, Medicare, News, Reimbursement.

CMS has issued an MLN Ambulance Transports Booklet. The booklet (36 pages) can be downloaded here.

Download MLN Ambulance Transports Booklet

One section of the Booklet that you might want to keep handy involves Free-Standing Emergency Departments. Specifically, on page 15, CMS states the following:

Freestanding Emergency Department (ED)
If a freestanding ED is provider based (a department of the hospital), the ambulance transport from the freestanding ED to the hospital is not a separately payable service under Part B if the beneficiary is admitted as an inpatient prior to ambulance transport. For more information about criteria for coverage of ambulance transports separately payable under Part B or as a packaged hospital inpatient service under Part A, refer to Chapter 10, Section 10.3.3, of the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual.

This may be useful, along with the Manual section cited, when you have a free-standing ED that is part of a hospital and they call for transports to the main building for the patient to be admitted, but the hospital lists the time of admission as being prior to the time of your transport. When the hospital admits the patient prior to your transport, the hospital becomes responsible for the ambulance charges. It may be useful to show the hospital and ED the booklet and Manual section to prove to them that the hospital is responsible if the patient is admitted to the hospital prior to your transport.

REPLICA Compact Enacted

Written by Suzanne Prentiss on May 9, 2017. Posted in News, Press, Professional Standards.

REPLICA Meets Goal, Interstate Compact Becomes Official

May 8, 2017
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Sue Prentiss
603-381-9195
prentiss@emsreplica.org

May 8, 2017 (Falls Church, VA). With the 10th member state enactment, the Recognition of
Emergency Medical Services Licensure Interstate Compact (REPLICA) has become official.
Governor Nathan Deal of Georgia signed Senate Bill 109 on today activating the nation’s first EMS
licensure compact. States that have passed REPLICA to date include: Colorado, Texas, Kansas,
Virginia, Tennessee, Idaho, Utah, Mississippi, Wyoming and Georgia.

Released in 2014, REPLICA’s model legislation creates a formal pathway for the licensed individual
to provide pre-hospital care across state lines under authorized circumstances. According to Keith
Wages, president of the National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO), “REPLICA
represents a collective, nationwide effort to address the problems faced by responders when needing
to cross state borders in the line of their duties.” Wages highlighted the compact’s abilities to
“increase access to healthcare, reduce regulatory barriers for EMS responders, and place an
umbrella of quality over cross border practice not previously seen in the EMS profession.” Wages
also noted that the partnership with the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians
(NREMT) has been essential during the advocacy and implementation phases. “We are grateful for
their continued support and contributions.”

Through funding provided by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), NASEMSO led 23 EMS,
fire, law enforcement organizations and associations as well as key federal partners in the design and
drafting of REPLICA. The National Registry of EMTs (NREMT) currently provides funding to finalize
the development of the Commission.

The compact calls for establishment of an Interstate Commission with each state that has passed
REPLICA holding a seat, as well as a national EMS personnel coordinated database. Member states
will be able to rapidly share personnel licensure information, develop policy focused only on cross
border EMS practice, and hold EMS personnel originating in other states accountable in an
unprecedented way. The National Registry of EMT’s (NREMT) has committed to the development
and hosting of the coordinated database.

Twelve national associations and organizations support REPLICA. Three states have REPLICA bills
under consideration in their legislative sessions. Learn more at www.emsreplica.org.

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EMS Week Activity Survey

Written by AAA Staff on May 9, 2017. Posted in Events, News.

EMS Week is May 19-25, 2019. The AAA wants to know how your organization is celebrating this year! Please let us know what your organization has planned. Also, please be sure to tag the AAA is your EMS Week social media posts so we can “like” and “share” what your organization is doing! The best submissions will also be posted in the AAA weekly digest. Please email info@ambulance.org if you have any questions.

Write to Your Senators! Support S.967

Written by Aidan Camas on May 8, 2017. Posted in Advocacy Priorities, Government Affairs, Legislative, Member Advisories, News, Reimbursement.

Take Action for Permanent Medicare Ambulance Relief

Ask your Senators to Support S.967 – 2017 Medicare Ambulance Access, Fraud Prevention, and Reform Act

The current 33-month extension of the Medicare add-on payments is set to expire at the end of December 2017. Losing these add-on payments would be a devastating blow to ambulance services across the country. It is crucial that the payments be made permanent as we push for a long-term solution. More details about the Bill can be found below. Let your Senators know that you support S. 967 — Here are three quick and easy ways to get involved!

Writing to your members of Congress only takes 2 clicks, follow these simple steps:

1. Enter contact information below (required by Congressional offices) and click “Submit”
2. On the next page you’ll see the letter(s) to your Senators – click “Submit Messages”

Active on Social Media? Tweet at your Senators asking for their support of S. 967!

Authorize Your Account
Enter Contact Information
Tweet! (Tweet will be auto-generated with your Senators tagged)

Know your Senators’ Twitter accounts already? Tweet:
“#ambulance svs in your state need you, @[your Senators]! Please co-sponsor S. 967 to help us continue to provide quality #EMS!”

Post on Facebook why S. 967 is important! Be sure to tag your Senators and encourage others to share your post! Ask others to write letters of support as well! http://bit.ly/AAAbill

More About Our Bill S. 967, the 2017 Medicare Ambulance Access, Fraud Prevention, and Reform Act:
Permanent ambulance relief legislation has been introduced by Senators Stabenow, Roberts, Schumer, Collins, and Leahy (S. 967). This legislation will allow ambulance service providers to maintain high quality ambulance services and budget for the future.
Specifically, the bill:

Provides Medicare Ambulance Relief, by permanently incorporating the current temporary 2 percent urban, 3 percent rural, and super rural bonus payments into the Medicare ambulance fee schedule rates.
Requires the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to submit a report to Congress detailing the features of a reformed payment system for ambulance services under the Medicare program no later than July 1, 2019.
Modifies the process for the transport of dialysis patients by requiring the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a process for the prior authorization of coverage for such patients.
Treat ambulance services designated as “suppliers” as “providers” for certain purposes under Medicare.
Specifies CMS to work with stakeholders in the development of a data collection system for ambulance entities that defines the various types of ambulance entities as well as the relevant cost and data elements required for submission.

Former Employee Plants False Story Against AAA President

Written by AAA Staff on May 6, 2017. Posted in News.

AAA Fully Supports Mr. Mark Postma, Sunstar COO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Amanda Riordan
Sr Director of Membership & Marketing, AAA
703-610-0264
ariordan@ambulance.org

McLean, VA–The American Ambulance Association has recently become aware of baseless Facebook and “prank” news site allegations of arrest leveled against our President, Mr. Mark Postma. Mr. Postma is Chief Operating Officer of Sunstar Paramedics in Largo, Florida.

These scurrilous claims were posted to social media in the form of a fake news story created by a former employee. Mr. Postma and Sunstar Paramedics have requested the post’s immediate removal from Facebook as well as Channel 23 News, a “prank” news site. Additionally, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Department has been investigating the defamatory posting.

Mr. Postma and Sunstar Paramedics have the full support of the American Ambulance Association as they take all steps necessary to delete this libelous story and defend Mr. Postma’s sterling reputation.

# # #

About the American Ambulance Association

Founded in 1979, the AAA represents hundreds of ambulance services across the United States that participate in emergency and nonemergency care and medical transportation. The Association serves as a voice and clearinghouse for ambulance services, and views prehospital care not only as a public service, but also as an essential part of the total public health care system.

AAA Mission Statement

The mission of the American Ambulance Association is to promote health care policies that ensure excellence in the ambulance services industry and provide research, education, and communications programs to enable its members to effectively address the needs of the communities they serve.

CMS Letter Regarding Merit-Based Incentive Payment System

Written by Brian Werfel on May 5, 2017. Posted in Medicaid, Medicare, Member Advisories, Member-Only, News, Regulatory.

Over the past week, multiple members have contacted the American Ambulance Association to report that they have received a letter from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) related to their participation in the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). The letter appears to have been sent to any entity with a taxpayer identification number (TIN) that is enrolled in the Medicare Part B Program. The stated purpose of the letter is to inform the provider whether it is exempt from participation in the MIPS program.

This member advisory is being issued to advise ambulance suppliers that:

(1) they are not eligible to participate in the MIPS program
(2) no positive or negative adjustments will be made to the ambulance suppliers Medicare payments
(3) no further action is required on their part

Therefore, AAA members that received this letter can safely disregard it.

House Passes American Health Care Act (AHCA)

Written by AAA Staff on May 4, 2017. Posted in Government Affairs, Legislative, Member Advisories, News.

The House this afternoon voted 217-213 to pass the American Health Care Act (H.R. 1628), as amended. The bill now heads to the Senate where it will be up for intense debate. The AAA will continue to monitor this legislation as it makes its way through the Senate.

The House also voted 429-0 to pass a bill (H.R. 2192) from Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ) that would eliminate a congressional exemption from health care changes. The exemption was included in AHCA to comply with budget reconciliation rules.

Two key amendments were added to the healthcare bill in order to ensure Republican support, the Upton Amendment and the MacArthur Amendment. These amendments were two of the more substantial changes to the bill since it was originally introduced. The AAA is currently working on drafting a detailed overview of this legislation and will distribute to members once completed.

ACA Repeal and Replace Update

Written by John Jonas on April 21, 2017. Posted in Executive, Government Affairs, Legislative, Member-Only, News.

Congress returns to Washington next week, and House Republican Leadership maintains an ambitious agenda to pass the American Health Care Act (AHCA) despite an unclear path navigating its moderate and conservative factions. President Trump, who refuses to let health care reform disappear from the agenda, is especially eager for a victory, and today predicted AHCA would pass within the next few weeks.

During the in-district work period these past two weeks, the White House, House Leadership and Republican committee staff have kept conversations going with the two disagreeing factions within their caucus – the moderate Tuesday Group and the conservative Freedom Caucus. At this stage, there appears to be no agreement within the Republican Caucus, and there are varying reports on how close are discussions. The wild card is whether President Trump and his team can help force a deal. As soon as a deal materializes, the House will move the bill to the floor.

In addition to health care, the discretionary aspects of the Federal government are under a temporary continuing resolution which expires at the end of next week. An effort is underway to pass a measure that will fund the government through the remainder of the 2017 Fiscal Year, which ends September 30. This effort is not without controversy, and includes an attempt by the Trump Administration to appropriate funds to build its border wall. However, Republicans will need at least eight Senate Democrats to vote with them to pass an omnibus spending bill, so compromise will be required. There may be a series of short-term funding patches as Congress considers spending priorities.

One of the more interesting issues Congress and the Trump Administration face is what to do with Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies that were meant to help reduce cost sharing (deductibles, co-payments) for especially poor, non-Medicaid eligible individuals buying insurance on the exchange. House Republicans had successfully sued the Obama Administration in district court arguing that Congress must appropriate the money before the ACA’s Cost Sharing Reduction (CSR) subsidies could be paid. With an injunction from the district court in place, Congress must decide whether to appropriate the money in the upcoming spending bill. Some Democrats have stated they will not vote to pass any budget without funds for the CSR program included. If Republicans can pass a budget without funding the CSR subsidies, they aren’t out of the woods yet on the CSR program. Specifically, the President still has to decide whether to appeal the district court decision on May 22. If President Trump chooses to accept the district court decision and there is no appropriation, the President could unilaterally shut down the CSR subsidy program. The President has threatened to use this court decision to bring Democrats to the negotiating table, in the event that the program is not appropriated and AHCA is not passed.

The AAA will continue to keep members up to date on these issues.

2017 AAA Legislative Awards

Written by AAA Staff on April 20, 2017. Posted in Awards, Legislative Awards, News, Stars of Life.

The American Ambulance Association is proud to announce the winners of the 2017 AAA Legislative Awards, in recognition of their strong advocacy for emergency medical services. Each legislator was chosen for their ongoing service to the ambulance services of the United States.

2017 AAA Legislator of the Year

Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) – Press Release, Facebook Post, Twitter Post

2017 AAA Legislative Recognition Award Recipients

Senators

Representatives

Lifetime Achievement of Susan McHenry

Written by AAA Staff on April 18, 2017. Posted in Community, News.

Congratulations to Susan McHenry of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of EMS! The National Association of State EMS Officials passes Resolution 2017-01 honoring the lifetime achievement of Susan McHenry. Her 40 year career began at the Virginia Department of Health in 1976 and has continued at the on at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of EMS since 1996. View the resolution here.

CMS Issues Final Market Stabilization Rule

Written by AAA Staff on April 17, 2017. Posted in Government Affairs, Medicaid, Medicare, News, Regulatory.

On Thursday, April 13, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final “Marketplace Stabilization Rule”. This is the final version of a rule that was first proposed on February 15, 2017. Last month, AAA consultant, Kathy Lester, published a blog post explaining the then proposed rule (“Administration’s Proposed Rule on Marketplace Stabilization”).

The final rule makes several policy changes to improve the market and promote stability, including:

2018 Annual Open Enrollment Period: The final rule adjusts the annual open enrollment period for 2018 to more closely align with Medicare and the private market. The next open enrollment period will start on November 1, 2017, and run through December 15, 2017, encouraging individuals to enroll in coverage prior to the beginning of the year.
Reduce Fraud, Waste, and Abuse: The final rule promotes program integrity by requiring individuals to submit supporting documentation for special enrollment periods and ensures that only those who are eligible are able to enroll. It will encourage individuals to stay enrolled in coverage all year, reducing gaps in coverage and resulting in fewer individual mandate penalties and help to lower premiums.
Promote Continuous Coverage: The final rule promotes personal responsibility by allowing issuers to require individuals to pay back past due premiums before enrolling into a plan with the same issuer the following year. This is intended to address gaming and encourage individuals to maintain continuous coverage throughout the year, which will have a positive impact on the risk pool.
Ensure More Choices for Consumers: For the 2018 plan year and beyond, the final rule allows issuers additional actuarial value flexibility to develop more choices with lower premium options for consumers, and to continue offering existing plans.
Empower States & Reduce Duplication: The final rule reduces waste of taxpayer dollars by eliminating duplicative review of network adequacy by the federal government. The rule returns oversight of network adequacy to states that are best positioned to evaluate network adequacy.

Read the Final Rule

Senator Susan Collins Named Legislator of the Year

Written by AAA Staff on April 17, 2017. Posted in Awards, Government Affairs, Legislative, Legislative Awards, News, Stars of Life.

For Immediate Release

Senator Collins To Receive Highest Legislative Honor from American Ambulance Association

To Be Recognized as AAA Legislator of the Year

Contact
Amanda Riordan
703-610-9018
ariordan@ambulance.org
www.ambulance.org

Washington, D.C. – The American Ambulance Association (AAA) has named Senator Susan Collins of Maine as the AAA Legislator of the Year, in recognition of her strong advocacy for emergency medical services. Senator Collins is invited to receive this honor at the AAA’s annual Stars of Life recognition ceremony on June 13 in Washington, D.C.

The Stars of Life program celebrates the contributions of ambulance professionals who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in service to their communities or the EMS profession. Stars of Life pays tribute to the dedication of these heroes while shining light on the critical role EMS plays in our healthcare infrastructure. This year, 101 EMS professionals will be honored as 2017 Stars of Life. In addition to Senator Collins’s recognition as as Legislator of the Year, twenty-four United States Senators and Representatives will receive Legislative Recognition Awards for their support of ambulance services.

AAA President Mark Postma notes, “Senator Collins has been a tireless advocate for emergency medical services, both in Maine and across our country. The AAA is honored to present her with the distinction of AAA Legislator of the Year.”

Senator Collins is a primary sponsor of the Medicare Ambulance Access, Fraud Prevention and Reform Act which would make permanent the current temporary Medicare ambulance relief. This bill ensures that ambulance service providers across the nation have the resources necessary to provide often life-saving emergency- as well as vital non-emergency medical transportation.

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs from 2003 to 2007, Senator Collins ensured both governmental and nongovernmental medical service providers were included in the definition of an emergency responder in the Homeland Security Act. This enabled ambulance service providers as first responders access to critical funding and resources.

First elected to the senate in 1996, Senator Collins has earned a national reputation for working across party lines to seek consensus on our nation’s most important issues. Senator Collins has carried out her longstanding commitment to healthcare issues through her work on the Special Committee on Aging as well as the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

In recognition of her ongoing service to the ambulance services of the United States, AAA is proud to call Senator Collins our Legislator of the Year.

# # #

About the American Ambulance Association

AAA Mission Statement

President’s Perspective April 2017

Written by Mark Postma on April 13, 2017. Posted in AAA HQ, Government Affairs, News.

Dear Fellow AAA Member,

As you know, the Medicare ambulance add-on payments are set to expire on December 31, 2017. The AAA Board, Government Affairs Committee, advocacy consultants, and staff have been working diligently to build support on Capitol Hill to ensure that this critical revenue remains in place.

As we continue to connect with policymakers in preparation for the introduction of our legislation, I ask that you pay special attention to the requests for advocacy action you receive from the AAA. Now, more than ever, we need the active participation of each member organization to ensure our collective future!

Capital Campaign and Financial Status

In addition to representing our members’ current interests in Washington, AAA strives to serve ambulance providers over the longer term. It is key that the Association build a pool of capital for use in case of an unexpected legislative or regulatory threat, or once-in-a-blue-moon strategic opportunity. For these reasons, I announced the creation of a Capital Campaign the day I assumed the office of President. Funds contributed to this campaign are managed separately from other assets, and can only be accessed after a full AAA Board vote.

To date, we have raised more than $250,000 of our $1mm goal through the generous contributions of our fellow members. My deepest thanks to all who have given. If you have not done so already, please consider donating today.

In addition to the Capital Campaign, we continue to build the overall financial strength of our association. Through close management of the budget, streamlined regional meetings, and increased membership, AAA continues to thrive. Thank you to Shawn Baird, Finance Chair, and David Tetrault, Membership Chair, and both committees for your hard work. It is paying off!

Stars of Life

I look forward to seeing many of you in Washington, DC in June at Stars of Life. Stars recognizes EMS providers from across the nation who have served their communities with distinction. The Stars, accompanied by their executive-level Hosts, meet with legislators to shine a light on the importance of ambulance services to our healthcare network.

I hope you will enjoy meeting the 2017 class of Stars as we share their stories and accomplishments on our website and social media.

Education

The Education Committee has been hard at work developing the program for the 2017 AAA Annual Conference & Trade Show. We look forward to announcing the full agenda in June, and hope that you will join us in exciting Las Vegas this November.

In the meantime, why not learn from our experts at an AAA Live! Workshop here at Sunstar Paramedics on May 3, or at Superior Air-Ground Ambulance in Illinois in July? If you’re short on time, AAA is also proud to offer a wide variety of engaging webinars on human resources, reimbursement, compliance, and other topics.

It continues to be my pleasure to serve so many talented, dedicated health care professionals. Thank you for your service to your communities, and I wish you continued success in 2017!

Mark Postma
President
American Ambulance Association
“Representing EMS in America”

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