Defining EMS for our Communities “Foot Pain” “County 9-1-1 dispatching EMS Station 90 for unknown medical emergency, female patient with foot pain. Ambulance 91 is due at 2040 hours.” That’s your scenario as it cracks through the Minitor. “Foot pain?” You ask yourself. Really? Someone actually called 9-1-1 to request...
You’re a Volunteer! Kudos! Today’s blog is primarily directed to our volunteer friends. Maybe you’re a volunteer administrator that sits on the Board of Directors for your ambulance service. Or, maybe you’re a volunteer provider, EMT or Paramedic, who gives your time to patient care when you’re not working at...
“Service Not Reasonable and Necessary" Part II Welcome back to Part II of our look at Palmetto GBA’s widespread review of ambulance services in the second quarter of fiscal year 2013. You’ll recall that last week we really focused on Palmetto’s comments concerning signatures and how their presence of lack...
Palmetto GBA Releases Results of Second Quarter Review Emergency and Non-Emergency Palmetto GBA, the Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) for Railroad Medicare, nationwide, and Part A/B MAC for the States of West Virginia, Virginia, North and South Carolina has released the results of a widespread review of Advanced Life Support ambulance...
Coloring Between the Lines—Self-Auditing The Basics Remember those days in grade school when you were so worried about coloring between the lines? Staying in compliance with the many ambulance service billing rules and regulations is a lot like that. We all have to “color between the lines.” One of the...
HIPAA is Still Here! HIPAA Defined Do you remember HIPAA? HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. Remember 1996? Bill Clinton was President of the United States, Don Shula retired as the Miami Dolphins head coach, we got socked with a huge blizzard in the eastern...
Preparing for Dialysis Transport Payment Reductions Last Week In our last blog we provided information regarding the announced 10% payment reduction that is being put in place by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on all BLS Non-Emergency transports to and from dialysis treatments for patients diagnosed with...
Payment Reductions Loom for Dialysis Transports Section 637 Remember “Section 637.” This is the section of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 that will require the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to reduce Medicare payments for BLS Non-Emergency ambulance transports nationwide by 10% beginning on October 1,...
Proposed Rule Tightens the Screw for Ambulance Feeling Beat Up? CMS published a proposed rule this week which intends to bolster fraud prevention and also limit certain Medicare privileges we’ve grown accustomed to in the ambulance industry. CMS is inviting comments on the proposal now through June 28, 2013. The...
Office and Operations— A Partnership Who’s Driving the Bus? Why do we have so many “slang” terms for the ambulance vehicle in EMS? Where did they all come from? I’m just as guilty as anyone for referring to an ambulance as a truck, unit, squad, rig, and my all-time favorite,...
