Pennsylvania Passes Epic Ambulance Non-Transport Payment

  Video from WNEP-TV. Barrar's bill to reimburse ambulance companies heads to governor WEST CHESTER, Pa.–Legislation drafted by state Rep. Steve Barrar, R-160, that would require ambulance companies to be reimbursed for providing medical treatment, even if the patient is not transported to a hospital, was successfully voted on concurrence by the House. Read more at Daily Local News Mobile Integrated Healthcare Editor Matt Zavadsky's Take:   A very logical step being taken by the Pennsylvania legislature!   And, one that is currently in place for payers such as Anthem and the Medicaid programs in Arizona and Georgia. Additional payers are looking to implement similar programs.   Decoupling payment from transport helps enhance patient outcomes, improve the patient’s experience of care, and significantly reduce the down-stream cost of care.   The misalignment of incentives of only reimbursing ambulance transport to an ED is a significant cost driver. In 2013, Health Affairs published a RAND study that determined that 12.9–16.2% of Medicare ambulance trips to the ED could have safely and effectively been managed in an alternate setting, and giving EMS flexibility to navigate patients could save the Medicare program up to $560 million annually.
Source: JEMS Special Topics - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tags: News Mobile Integrated Healthcare Source Type: news