Musings of a Public Health Emergency- So Far By Chuck Humphrey, B.A., EMT-B, CAC, CADS* Rear-View Mirror Like me, I’m sure that you have taken some time to reflect on what you have learned over the last 15 months since COVID-19 crashed its way into all of our lives. Those of us who serve in […]
Because of YOU! By Chuck Humphrey, B.A., EMT-B, CAC, CADS* “To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson Two Years in a Row For two years in a row, EMS Week in the United States is attracting a spotlight, unlike any single […]
Dissecting the Certificate of Medical Necessity By Chuck Humphrey, B.A., EMT-B, CAC, CADS* The Non-Emergency Transport World If you live in the non-emergency ambulance transport world, then the words “medical necessity form” or the letters “PCS” are most familiar to you. A certificate of medical necessity is required to bill a claim to Medicare for […]
The Community Paramedicine Model By Adam Patterson, CAD* with Victoria Reinhartz, PharmD, CPh** A fresh look at Mobile Integrated Health: As the entire EMS community focuses on recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, there are a couple of silver linings coming out of 2021. One could argue that the attention put on EMS services’ ability to […]
This is Non-Negotiable What if successful leadership isn’t really that complicated? What if there is one fundamental thing that determines whether people follow you as a leader? No, it’s not a title, a position of power, or an endorsement that you are in charge. What if one aspect of leadership is non-negotiable; a must-have characteristic […]
Sorting Out an 1135 Waiver- Practical Application and Best Practices By Chuck Humphrey, B.A., EMT-B, CAC, CADS* What is an 1135? “When the President declares a disaster or emergency under the Stafford Act or National Emergencies Act and the HHS Secretary declares a public health emergency under Section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, […]
It’s Time to Pay Up! Medicare Accelerated Payment Recoupment to Begin A Whole Year! It’s hard to believe it’s been a whole year since we first were introduced to the terms COVID-19 and the word Pandemic became part of our everyday dialogue. But here we are, one-year later, and the time has come to repay […]
Succession Planning: Why Bother? By Ed Marasco, MPM, CMTE, EMT-P (Ret.)* Long In The Tooth And Short On Plans EMS is a relatively young profession and some of the challenges faced by our community today are “old world problems” for many of our peers around the healthcare and public safety sectors. As the early leaders […]
The Tale of Two Studies…and…COVID-19 Gesundheit! At this very moment, 365 days ago, if you would have looked at me and said “COVID-19”, I’d have said “gesundheit!” and handed you a tissue to wipe your nose. No pun intended (well maybe a little pun), but who in the world would have dared to guess that […]
ALERT: Georgia Passes State Legislation on Surprise Medical Bills and Balance Billing by Adam Patterson, CADS As discussed in previous articles, “Surprise Medical Bills” and “Balance Billing” have been recent hot topics. The U.S. House and Senate leaders recently passed legislation that would alter commercial insurance billing practices nationally. Georgia became one of many states […]
