Besides delivering EMS care to a community, two of the most important business responsibilities an ambulance manager has is obviously billing for services provided and daily sales outstanding (the number of days from the patient being transported to the ambulance service actually being paid). Topping the list for many is the fee structure paid by Medicare (Federal), Medicaid (BadgerCare at the State of Wisconsin), and now the Affordable Care Act through health insurance exchanges.
These three important areas are discussed in this newest webcast with Tristan North, Senior Vice President for Government Affairs at the American Ambulance Association in Washington, D.C.
Two items covered in the webcast are worth noting:
- A current study is being completed to compile a ranking of state Medicaid rates paid to ambulance services. We know Wisconsin ranks low in rates paid for BLS and ALS patient transportation; however, the final results will be telling.
- The Affordable Care Act appears to offer insurance plans that cover many hospital charges, but not ambulance transportation. The greater concern is some of these plan options have much higher deductibles in the thousands of dollars, possibly changing the payer mix to more self-pay patient transports. This may put an ambulance service more at risk for not getting paid for 911 and other call out requests in serving the public's emergency or medical needs.
To listen to the webcast, click here.
