2020 AAA Virtual Conference Speaker Application

Posted on June 12, 2020 by AAA Staff

Although the 2020 AAA Annual Conference & Trade Show has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Ambulance Association remains committed to the continued education and engagement of ambulance service leaders. As such, we plan a series of webinars throughout the year, as well as a Virtual Conference in November. If you would like to submit a speaker proposal for the 2020 Virtual Conference, please complete the form below by July 31, 2020. Please note that all participating speakers may be asked to pre-record their sessions using a tripod or other higher-quality A/V setup, and that sessions may be edited for length or quality. Thank you for your interest in sharing your knowledge with your EMS colleagues. All Virtual Annual sessions will take place on the highly interactive Prodigy EMS platform developed by Pro EMS of Cambridge, Massachusetts.

2020 Annual Conference & Trade Show Cancelled

Posted on June 3, 2020 by AAA Staff

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, the American Ambulance Association board has made the difficult decision to cancel our 2020 Annual Conference & Trade Show. While we were looking forward to seeing everyone in Las Vegas in November, health and safety remain our top priority. We also anticipate that travel restrictions will remain in place for many attendees in the Fall and that Las Vegas may still have social distancing guidelines that would limit our ability to host the full program. The AAA is committed to providing education and networking opportunities to our members and the ambulance industry. Please stay tuned for more information regarding a smaller virtual conference offering and other educational opportunities. Attendees All registrations will be canceled and all paid orders will be refunded within 10 business days. If you have already processed payment for your registration, please be on the lookout for an email from AAA staff letting you know that your refund has been submitted. You do not need to do anything to receive a refund, we will process them automatically. Exhibitors & Sponsors All payments for exhibit booths and sponsorships will be refunded within 15 business days. Please be on the lookout for (more…)

Annual 2021 Session Submissions Are Now Open!

Posted on February 13, 2020 by AAA Staff

Please note that all session selections for the AAA 2020 Annual Conference & Trade Show have been made. The full agenda is posted to the #Ambucon20 website. If you are interested in speaking NEXT YEAR in 2021, please complete the form below. Thank you for your support and participation! AAA 2021 Session Proposals Due January 31, 2021 AAA Annual Conference & Trade Show November 1–3, 2021 Gaylord Texan | Grapevine, Texas | #Ambucon21 The American Ambulance Association Annual Conference & Trade Show brings together mobile healthcare leaders from across the country to learn, network, and plan for the future of our industry. AAA Annual is committed to empowering our participants with the insights and best practices they need to serve their patients as well as operate efficiently and profitably. Speaking at the AAA Annual Conference & Trade Show is your opportunity to share best practices and insights with your peers as you build your personal brand. We invite you to submit your session proposals before January 31, 2021. Topics Sample speaking proposal topics considered include, but are not limited to: Recruitment, Retention, and Human Resources Operations, Risk Management and Safety Management and Supervision Leadership Development & Structure Improved Fleet Maintenance/Management Clinical/Quality (more…)

Submit Photos for the AAA’s 40th Anniversary!

Posted on October 1, 2019 by AAA Staff

As we prepare to celebrate the AAA’s 40th anniversary at this year’s Annual Conference & Tradeshow, we are asking for your help! If you have photos or other items commemorating your time as an AAA member from the past 40 years, or if you would like items to be included in our anniversary time capsule which will be sealed until the AAA’s 50th anniversary, please fill out this form. Submissions will be featured in an anniversary collage displayed at AAA 2019. Deadline for submissions is Friday, November 1st.

2019 Annual Call for Presentations

Posted on January 8, 2019 by AAA Staff

The American Ambulance Association Annual Conference & Trade Show is continuously one of the largest inclusive gatherings of ambulance and pre-hospital care leaders, and features distinct tracks for Reimbursement and Policy, Human Resources and Operations, Government Affairs, and Executive Leadership. Our primary focus is to provide critical information that both new and established ambulance services may utilize to better serve their communities and operate their services more efficiently and profitably. The following are general topics areas to be addressed, but other subject areas are welcome: Recruitment, Retention, and Human Resources Operations, Risk Management and Safety Management and Supervision Leadership Development & Structure Improved Fleet Maintenance/Management Clinical/Quality Assurance Program Reimbursement/Patient Accounts Innovations, Technology, and Communications Emerging Healthcare Trends/Hot Topics Healthcare Reform/Public Health Format of Sessions Sessions will range from larger audience general sessions, to smaller breakout sessions within various topic tracks. Breakout sessions may be 20 minutes, 60 minutes, or 75 minutes in length. We are accepting single speaker as well as panel discussions. Sessions may be either classroom style or set for small work groups. Audience involvement is encouraged. Proposal Instructions Please be advised that participation as a presenter is strictly on a voluntary basis. AAA is unable to pay speaker fees or (more…)

CMS Launches Outreach Effort to Ambulance Providers & Suppliers

Posted on October 3, 2018 by Kathy Lester

As part of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (BBA 2018), the Congress instructed CMS to develop a cost collection system to collect cost and revenue data related to the provision of ambulance services. Ambulance services are defined by federal law to include all levels of emergency and non-emergency services. CMS is in the first phase of this process. The Congress instructed the Agency to engage with stakeholders before specifying through notice and comment rulemaking the data collection system. By law, CMS is required to specify the final system by December 31, 2019. CMS must also identify the first group of providers and suppliers selected for the first representative sample by that date as well. It appears that the goal is to have the contractor develop a proposal before the 2019 rulemaking cycle which will begin next summer. To engage with the stakeholders, CMS, through its contractor the RAND Corporation, is reaching out providers and suppliers to learn more about the costs and revenues associated with providing ambulance services. During the American Ambulance Association’s annual meeting earlier this month, CMS through the RAND Corporation, convened a focus group where they selected several AAA members who were able to talk directly (more…)

NEW! AAA PreCon Workshop on Mandatory Cost Data Collection

Posted on July 13, 2018 by AAA Staff

AAA is excited to announce that this year we will be holding a full day pre-conference workshop at the AAA Annual Conference & Trade Show! Join industry experts Rebecca Williamson, Angie McLain, Asbel Montes, Kathy Lester, Scott Moore, and Brian Werfel to learn what the new cost data collection mandates will require and how you and your service can get ahead of the game and prepare for these changes. Mandatory Cost Data Collection: When Is It Happening & How to Prepare September 5, 2018 | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM | MGM Grand, Las Vegas $75 for Annual Conference attendees | $250 workshop-only 2018 federal legislation expanded Medicare cost reporting to ambulance services, although with some important differences from other Medicare reporters. Failure to meet these new reporting requirements could lead to significant sanctions including loss of Medicare revenue. In this session, we will review how we got to where we are, what the new mandates will require based on current regulations, and how best to prepare yourself and your service for the phase-in. To register, simply add the workshop to your cart when completing your Annual Conference registration. Register for Annual and the Workshop► Register only for the workshop (more…)

Closed: 2018 Annual Conference Call for Presentations

Posted on February 17, 2018 by Colly Crowy

AAA 2018 Annual Conference & Trade Show September 6-8, 2018 at MGM Grand, Las Vegas, NV We are asking those individuals interested in presenting at the American Ambulance Association’s Annual Conference & Trade Show to respond to our Call for Presentations. This premier event is one of the largest inclusive gatherings of ambulance and pre-hospital care leaders, and features distinct tracks for Operations, Reimbursement and Policy, and Executive Leadership. Our primary focus continues to be providing critical information that both new and established ambulance services may utilize to better serve their communities and operate their services more efficiently and profitably. To submit a proposal, please fill out our Call for Presentations form. The following are general topics areas to be addressed, but other subject areas are welcome: Recruitment, Retention, and Human Resources Operations, Risk Management and Safety Management and Supervision Leadership Development & Structure Improved Fleet Maintenance/Management Clinical/Quality Assurance Programs Reimbursement/Patient Accounts Innovations, Technology, and Communications Emerging Healthcare Trends/Hot Topics Healthcare Reform/Public Health Format of Sessions Sessions will range from larger audience general sessions, to smaller breakout sessions within various topic tracks. We are accepting single speaker as well as panel discussions. Sessions may be either classroom style or set (more…)

2018 AAA Annual Conference Call for Presentations

Posted on January 8, 2018 by AAA Staff

2017 AMBY Nominations Now Open!

Posted on July 26, 2017 by AAA Staff

Nominations for the 2017 AMBY Awards is now open! The AMBYs recognize excellence in the ambulance profession and the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit that epitomize AAA members. Honor excellence in EMS by nominating a project within a service or company for consideration. Read the 2016 case studies to find out why we’re passionate about honoring your commitment to excellence. Why Bring the AMBYs to Your Organization? Share Your Knowledge with Your Peers By entering the AMBYs you show your commitment to excellence in the ambulance industry and your willingness to share your superior accomplishments with your peers. Winners will are awarded during the AAA Awards Reception at our Annual Conference & Trade Show in Las Vegas, In addition, all entries will be shared with the AAA membership on the website, in the association’s mobile event app and as an online publication. Show Your Value to Your Community AMBY Award winners are given the American Ambulance Association’s AMBY Award Winner logo to proudly display on their website, social media sites, and other marketing collateral to let key stakeholders know the Association recognizes your contribution to the industry as outstanding. In addition, winners will receive a press release template to send to your local press. (more…)

2017 AAA Annual Conference Call for Presentations

Posted on February 2, 2017 by AAA Staff

AAA 2017 Annual Conference & Trade Show November 13-15, 2017, Caesars Palace We are asking those individuals interested in presenting at the American Ambulance Association’s Annual Conference & Trade Show to respond to our Call for Presentations. This premier event is one of the largest inclusive gatherings of ambulance and pre-hospital care leaders, and features distinct tracks for Workforce Management, Reimbursement and Policy, and Executive Leadership. Our primary focus continues to be providing critical information that both new and established ambulance services may utilize to better serve their communities and operate their services more efficiently and profitably. To submit a proposal, please fill out our Call for Presentations form. The following are general topics areas to be addressed but other subject areas are welcome: Recruitment, Retention, and Human Resources Operations, Risk Management and Safety Management and Supervision Leadership Development & Structure Improved Fleet Maintenance/Management Clinical/Quality Assurance Program Reimbursement/Patient Accounts Innovations, Technology, and Communications Emerging Healthcare Trends/Hot Topics Healthcare Reform/Public Health/Partnering with ACO’s Format of Sessions: Sessions, unless otherwise requested, are 75 minutes including Q&A. We are accepting single speaker as well as panel discussions. Sessions may be either classroom style or set for small workgroups. Hands-on workgroups and audience involvement (more…)

2016 AAA Award Winners Announced

Posted on September 20, 2016 by Aidan Camas

The AAA is proud to announce this year’s award winners. Awards will be presented at the AAA Annual Conference and Tradeshow Awards Reception on Tuesday, November 8, 2016. Please join us in congratulating the winners. J. Walter Schaefer Award Randy Strozyk, American Medical Response The J. Walter Schaefer Award is given annually to an individual whose work in EMS has contributed positively to the advancement of the industry as a whole. Randy has achieved this through his tireless dedication and service to the industry and his role in elevating the association and its members to national prominence. Robert L. Forbuss Lifetime Achievement Award Julie Rose, Community Care Ambulance The Robert L. Forbuss Lifetime Achievement Award is named in honor of the first Executive Director of the American Ambulance Association. It recognizes a volunteer leader who has made a significant long-term impact on the association. Julie has held numerous leadership positions in the AAA including Membership Committee Chair, Region III Director and Alternate Director. Julie has worked tirelessly to get members of her Region to join the AAA, knowing that it is important to participate in the national organization to be part of the team finding solutions to today’s challenges in EMS. President’s (more…)

AAA 2015: Afterburner CEO, Survivor Contestant to Keynote

Posted on October 14, 2015 by AAA Staff

AAA is delighted to announce that one of our Annual Conference & Tradeshow keynotes will be James “Murph” Murphy, Founder & CEO of Afterburner. Murph will be joined by Terry “TD” Deitz, contestant on this season’s Survivor! James “Murph” Murphy James “Murph” Murphy, the Founder & CEO of Afterburner, Inc., has a unique and powerful mix of leadership skills in both the military and business worlds. Murph joined the U.S. Air Force where he learned to fly the F-15. He logged over 1,200 hours as an instructor pilot in the F-15 and accumulated over 3,200 hours of flight time in other high-performance aircraft. As the 116th Fighter Wing’s Chief of Training for the Georgia Air National Guard, Murph’s job was to keep 42 combat-trained fighter pilots ready to deploy worldwide within 72 hours. As a flight leader, he flew missions to Central America, Asia, Central Europe and the Middle East. Prior to his service in the U.S. Air Force, Murph had a successful career in imaging equipment sales, where he helped increase his company’s sales by 500%. Years later, he became Director of Sales for a small paint company. The concepts he developed and utilized in business and the U.S. Air Force (more…)

HHS OIG Report Discussion Added to Annual Conference

Posted on October 9, 2015 by Aidan Camas

Late breaking AAA Conference update: In order to address a Medicare reimbursement issue we feel is critical, AAA has decided to modify the Tuesday afternoon conference session being led by Brian S. Werfel, Esq. Instead of covering medicare audits in this session, Mr. Werfel will now be leading an in depth discussion about a recent OIG Report on Questionable Billing Practices. The originally schedule session on preparing for medicare audits will be offered as a webinar. Further information about this new conference session is provided below. Understanding the Recent OIG Report on Questionable Billing Practices On September 29, 2015, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General released a report on “Inappropriate Payments and Question Billing for Part B Ambulance Transports”. The report concluded that Medicare paid $24.2 million during the first half of 2012 for ambulance transports that did not meet Medicare program requirements. In this special session, AAA Medicare Consultant Brian S. Werfel, Esq. will breakdown the OIG’s report, with special attention being paid to each of the 7 billing practices the OIG identified as “questionable”. The session will include strategies that companies can implement to avoid these practices. Brian will also discuss ongoing OIG enforcement activities related to (more…)