CMS Rolling Out New Reimbursement Options

[EpiEMS]

Looks like CMS is finally catching up...

They're releasing a "voluntary, five-year payment model" in which Medicare "will pay participating ambulance suppliers and providers to 1) transport an individual to a hospital emergency department (ED) or other destination covered under the regulations, 2) transport to an alternative destination (such as a primary care doctor’s office or an urgent care clinic), or 3) provide treatment in place with a qualified health care practitioner, either on the scene or connected using telehealth."

Pretty neat stuff. Alternative transport destinations & getting paid for it.

 

[DrParasite]

This has been all over linkedin, I'm surprised it wasn't mentioned earlier.

I am curious how it is going to be implemented but the heathcare system in general.

 

[EpiEMS]

@DrParasite Yeah, I was surprised it didn't show up here yet!

It's an interesting model - I'm still not clear on why we can't bill for an assessment/refusal and hand out a taxi (or public transit...) voucher...which is cheaper, I presume, given that you don't need an ambulance staffed by two people to transport somebody with coryzal symptoms to an urgent (s)care or their PCP.