A new payment model, Emergency Triage, Treat and Transport (ET3) Model, was announced Thursday, February 14, that will make Medicare reimbursement available for certain non-transport ambulance services and ambulance transports to alternate destinations.

“[This] announcement shows that we can radically rethink the incentives around care delivery even in one of the trickiest parts of our system. A value-based healthcare system will help deliver each patient the right care, at the right price, in the right setting, from the right provider,” said HHS Secretary Alex Azar

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the 2019 Ambulance Inflation Factor of 2.3%. Beginning January 1, 2019, Medicare reimbursement rates will increase slightly.

The Medicare Prior Authorization Model for Repetitive, Scheduled Non Emergent Ambulance Transport is being extended in the current model States of Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia for one additional year to allow CMS to continue to evaluate the model and determine if the model meets the statutory requirements for nationwide expansion under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015. The model is now currently scheduled to end in all states on December 1, 2019.

Source: https://www.novitas-solutions.com/webcenter/portal/MedicareJL

House Bill 1013, payment for treat no transport, has passed the House on October 17, 2018 at 187-0.

See House Bill 1013 here: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2017&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1013

Join us—and more than 3,000 EMS professionals—at Texas EMS Conference November 18-21.

This five-day conference features a packed exhibit hall and more than 180 continuing education classes led by top EMS educators. Check out the latest in EMS services, supplies, equipment, and vehicles in the 200,000 square foot exhibit hall and choose from many lectures, hands-on workshops, and pre-conference classes covering all the topics you want to know about.

Many of you have been following the new Medicare card project timeline and have probably already started to see some of the new ID numbers trickle in.

We want you to know that AIM is prepared! The most recent Medicare milestone, scheduled in October, is to add the new MBIs, for those members assigned one, to the 835 remittance advice. You can still submit using the HICN, but if a MBI exists, Medicare will return the ID in the remit 835 Loop 2100, Segment NM1 (Corrected Patient/Insured Name), Field NM109 (Identification Code).

We’re proud to be Gold-tier sponsors of this valuable yearly EMS event this September 5-7.

This year, the Annual PA EMS Conference will feature

• Essential pre-conference workshops
• A great lineup of vendors exhibitors—including us!
• A new EMS Skills Challenge (Note: make sure to sign up online)
• Two spectacular feature presenters, Steve Wirth and Paul Werfe. Steve is a founding partner of Page, Wolfberg & Wirth, LLC, and is one of the best known EMS attorneys and consultants in the United States. Paul is a prolific international speaker, and author of over 50 articles, magazine columns, and book sections, Paul brings three decades of EMS experience to the paramedic program.
• And more

We are on our way to Saint Louis, MO for this year’s abc360 conference and we hope to see you there! 

The abc360 conference, hosted in Saint Louis, MO June 3rd-7th, focuses on Ambulance Revenue Cycle Management and Compliance. Choose up to five days’ worth of outstanding, educational content and hear from industry leaders who can prepare you for revenue cycle success. There will also be opportunities for NAAC education & certification, so make sure to reserve your spot.

Happy EMS week!

This week represents our role-models who, without doubt, are strong and dedicated individuals that keep us safe and continue to protect us each day.

Here at AIM Online EMS Software and Services, we want to thank the EMS community. Thank you for your time and investment in the general public, even though you see more than you should. Thank you for risking your life and overcoming dangerous situations for our safety. Your bravery does not go unnoticed and we want to thank you for all that you do. With honor, admiration and appreciation, we love our EMS community.