Community Paramedicine’s Growth Hindered by Reimbursement Issues

From Politico’s “Reimbursement issues block paramedics from expanded role“—

Despite the track record of [community paramedicine] initiatives in places like Nevada and Texas, where paramedics are providing in-home care, coordinating patient services and saving millions in the process, Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance plans still won’t reimburse for such work. The program successes to date are only beginning to change that…

Nationwide, the impact from reducing ambulance calls and demands on ERs while freeing up doctors could be huge. A 2013 study in Health Affairs estimated that more flexible reimbursement for paramedicine approaches could save Medicare $283 million to $560 million annually and similar sums for private insurers.

AAA Members Named to NEMSAC

On May 12, 2015, two AAA member leaders were appointed to the  National Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council (NEMSAC) by U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. NEMSAC advises the Department of Transportation and the Federal Interagency Committee on critical EMS issues.

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Kaiser Health News: REMSA Paramedics Steer Non-Emergency Patients Away From ERs

Innovation in Reno
REMSA program empowers EMS, helps patient outcomes, and cuts costs.

Yesterday Kaiser Health News reported that AAA member organization Regional Emergency Medical Services Authority (REMSA), is serving its community in innovative ways that reduce healthcare costs and improve patient outcomes. Initiatives led by REMSA CEO Jim Gubbels empower Reno paramedics to lower the number of preventable emergency room visits and close gaps in primary health care.

Using a $9.8 million federal grant, [REMSA CEO Jim Gubbels’] agency launched three different projects. In addition to providing paramedic home visits and offering patients options besides the ER, the agency started a nurse-run health line to give people with health questions another number to call in non-emergency situations.

An early evaluation by the University of Nevada, Reno, which was based on insurance claims and hospital data, shows that the projects saved $5.5 million in 2013 and 2014. They helped avoid 3,483 emergency department visits, 674 ambulance transports and 59 hospital re-admissions, according to the preliminary data. The federal government plans to do its own evaluation.

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