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Source: https://www.pwwemslaw.com/news/blog/cms-just-announced-medicare-reimbursement-treat-no-transport-and-alternative-destinations

CMS Just Announced Medicare Reimbursement for Treat no Transport and Alternative Destinations

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/14/2019 - 12:32pm

Moments ago, at a firehouse near the US Capitol, top leaders at HHS and CMS announced that for the first time ever Medicare reimbursement will be available for certain non-transport ambulance services and for ambulance transports to alternate destinations. 

PWW partners Steve Wirth and Ryan Stark attended today's announcement, and are gathering more details about the new model program from key government stakeholders. 

What's Happening?
CMS's Innovative Center is rolling out a new model program, the Emergency Triage, Treat and Transport (ET3) Model that makes it possible for participating ambulance suppliers and providers to partner with qualified health care practitioners to provide treatment without transport and with alternative destination sites such as primary care doctors' offices or urgent-care clinics.  The Model will also encourage development of medical triage lines for low acuity 911 calls in regions where participating ambulance suppliers and providers operate.

Here's What We Know Now:

• CMS is anticipating a start date of early 2020
• The Model will apply only to agencies that respond to 911 calls
• Ambulance agencies currently enrolled as Medicare providers can apply to participate beginning this summer
• This is a voluntary program- reimbursement under the standard ambulance fee schedule won't change for now
• Participating EMS agencies will need to track designated quality metrics

What's Coming?
CMS will announce more details shortly- such as how to participate and how to code for these services.

PWW is monitoring the latest developments and will bring them to you at abc360 this spring!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, November 16, 2018
CONTACT: Joshua Clayton (Joshua.Clayton@state.sd.us), (605) 773-3737 

Pertussis Cases Rise In South Dakota 

PIERRE, S.D. – Recent reports of community increases in pertussis have the Department of Heath reminding parents to make sure their kids are appropriately immunized.

Since the beginning of the year, 90 cases of pertussis have been reported to the Health Department. This is the highest number reported since 2014 when the state saw 109 pertussis cases. Counties seeing the most cases include Edmunds (19), Brown (15), Minnehaha (13), and Hughes (12).

“Pertussis is a very serious illness so it is important to take precautions like ensuring you and your children are current with all recommended vaccines,” said Dr. Joshua Clayton, state epidemiologist for the department.

Pertussis is a highly contagious disease that is spread from person to person through the air by the cough of an infected person. Early symptoms resemble a common cold, including sneezing, runny nose, low-grade fever and a mild cough. Within two weeks, the cough becomes more severe and is characterized by episodes of numerous rapid coughs followed by a high-pitched whoop. Thick, clear mucus may be discharged following the cough. Coughing episodes may recur for one to two months, and are more frequent at night.

While it can affect people of any age, it is most severe in babies under 6 months old, especially in preterm and unvaccinated infants. The elderly are also at risk. The single most effective control measure is maintaining the highest possible level of immunization in the community. The vaccine is given in a series of doses at 2, 4, 6 and 15 months of age and at 4–6 years of age. Because immunity wanes over time, a booster dose is recommended for adolescents, 11-12 years of age, and for adults.

Treatment with antibiotics can shorten the contagious period. People who have been in contact with an infected person should see their clinician for evaluation and to receive antibiotics if they have symptoms of pertussis or are at high risk of developing pertussis. People at high risk of developing pertussis following exposure to a pertussis case include household contacts, infants, pregnant women in their third trimester, and persons with pre-existing health conditions.

People not having symptoms and not at high risk of developing pertussis should monitor themselves for respiratory symptoms for 21 days. To prevent the spread of disease, people with pertussis or their symptomatic contacts may be isolated at home. More information about pertussis and its control can be found on the department’s website at http://doh.sd.gov/diseases/infectious/diseasefacts/Pertussis.aspx.

Preventing and controlling infectious disease is one objective of the Department of Health’s 2015-2020 strategic plan, http://doh.sd.gov/strategicplan.

Source: http://news.sd.gov/newsitem.aspx?id=23986 / Nov. 16, 2018

Hello to all EMS Directors, Managers and Administrators,

EMS leaders throughout South Dakota have taken a historic move to form an Ambulance Service Association. This newly found organization is an effort to aid EMS agencies in best business practices, leadership development, financial reporting, insurance reimbursement options, political representation and enhancing medical direction.

The purpose of the SDAA is:

1. To provide an organized and unified voice for ambulance services to intermediaries, legislators, and regulatory bodies.
   

2. To develop and promote a code of ethics for ambulance services throughout South Dakota.
   
3. To provide for the exchange of appropriate information with those interested in ambulance services and pre-hospital medical care.
   
4. To promote understanding, cooperation and communication among ambulance services.
   
5. To develop and promote high standards of patient care and assurance of quality in pre-hospital care.
   
6. To initiate, sponsor, and promote educational programs, cost saving projects and research in the ambulance industry.
   
7. To assemble and disseminate information about ambulance services, issues and needs to ambulance services, appropriate bodies and individuals.
   
8. To establish cooperative liaison activities with other associations and governmental agencies interested in the improvement of emergency medical care for the benefit of ambulance providers.
   
9. To promote health care and safety in the state of South Dakota.
   

Through several meetings held around the state we have formed the SD Ambulance Association and have elected leadership to ‘get the ball rolling.’ The organizational structure is on page two of this letter. To highlight the core elements, we have an Executive Committee with President, Senior Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. To aid the communications and regional representation, we also have seven District Vice Presidents (assigned based on the SD EMS Assn 7 districts) who will be the outreach and local point of contact for voting and input as to issues faced in your area.

There are four proposed committees that can be changed and organized as the Association develops. These committees are; Finance, Political Affairs, Education and Medical Direction. If you are interested in participating in one or more of these groups please feel free to contact your District Vice President. There are many issues plaguing EMS agencies nationally and throughout our state that can be addressed and hopefully fixed through targeted discussions within these committees.

As we develop the By-laws and Articles of Incorporation which can be accessed on the web at https://sdaa.wildapricot.org. We realize that it will be very difficult to get all Directors/Managers to a given meeting, when issues requiring a vote are present you will receive a proxy ballot by email requiring you to fill it out and give it to your District VP. They will in turn present your vote at the meeting (if you are unable to attend). This is a way for everyone’s voice to be heard. All eligible members will have one vote per agency.

Your membership is the BEST way to present a united voice for change. EMS in South Dakota is being looked at very closely right now to see where changes need to be made from the laws to the governing agencies that work with us. If you have any questions please feel free to call or email any one of the Executive Committee.

Brian Hambek, President

SD Ambulance Assn.