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Tag: Ground Ambulance & Patient Billing Advisory Committee (GAPBAC)

GAPBAC | Follow Up from Committee Meeting #2

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Advocacy Priorities, Executive, Government Affairs, Private Insurance, Regulatory.

Ground Ambulance and Patient Billing (GAPB) Advisory Committee Public Meeting #2 (August 16, 2023)

The Ground Ambulance and Patient Billing (GAPB) Advisory Committee Second Public Meeting was held on August 16, 2023. Materials for this meeting are available for download on the CMS.gov GAPB website.

As we continue this webinar series, we look to you as industry experts to provide feedback and recommend information that would be beneficial in future webinars. Written public comments for consideration by the Advisory Committee may be emailed to:  GAPBAdvisoryCommittee@cms.hhs.gov .

Public comments on the specific topics listed in the GAPB Advisory Committee Public Meeting #2 Agenda, should be submitted by September 5, 2023 for consideration by the GAPB Advisory Committee.

 

GAPBAC Meeting Postponed

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Regulatory.

The first meeting (virtual) of the Ground Ambulance and Patient Billing Advisory Committee scheduled for January 17 and 18 has been postponed. According to CMS, the meeting is being postponed due to “operational impediments”. We will let you know the new dates for the meeting when announced by CMS.

AAA President Baird Named to Balance Billing Advisory Committee

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Advocacy Priorities, Balance Billing, Government Affairs, Legislative, Regulatory, Reimbursement.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today appointed American Ambulance Association President Shawn Baird to the Ground Ambulance and Patient Billing Advisory Committee (GAPBAC), established by the Congress under “The No Surprises Act.” Shawn will represent the ground ambulance service provider and field personnel community.

 “I am honored to have the opportunity to serve,” stated Baird. “I look forward to representing the interests of EMS providers and professionals as they care for our communities.

 The Congress recognizes that the one-size-fits all approach to addressing surprise medical bills would not work for EMS. State and local governments regulate EMS agencies services and rates, as both first responders and medical care providers, which adds another level of complexity. As a result, the Congress established GAPBAC so the unique characteristics of ground ambulance services could be taken into consideration when evaluating private insurer billing policies to protect access to EMS, respect state and local government regulation, and protect patients.

 Patients with private insurance should not be caught in the middle when their insurers do not adequately reimburse for vital ground ambulance services,” said Baird. “EMS must receive fair reimbursement by insurance companies for providing critical medical services to patients.”

 Baird will bring to the Committee his years of firsthand experience and expertise as a paramedic and operator of an ambulance service in both urban and rural areas. He will also share knowledge gained from his years of volunteer leadership at the American Ambulance Association and the Oregon State Ambulance Association, as well as his term as an appointee to the National EMS Advisory Committee.

 The GAPBAC is charged with “reviewing options to improve the disclosure of charges and fees for ground ambulance services, better inform consumers of insurance options for such services, and protect consumers from balance billing.” The Committee will submit a report that includes recommendations with respect to disclosure of charges and fees for ground ambulance services and insurance coverage, consumer protection and enforcement authorities of the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury and State authorities, and the prevention of balance billing to consumers. The report must be received no later than 180 days after the date of its first meeting.

About the American Ambulance Association

The American Ambulance Association safeguards the future of mobile healthcare through advocacy, thought leadership, and education. AAA advances sustainable EMS policy, empowering our members to serve their communities with high-quality on-demand healthcare. For more than 40 years, we have proudly represented those who care for people first.

CMS | Ambulance Open Door Forum Dec 9

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in ET3, Regulatory.

The next CMS Ambulance Open Door Forum scheduled for:

Date:  Thursday, December 9, 2021

Start Time:  2:00pm-3:00pm PM Eastern Time (ET);

Please dial-in at least 15 minutes before call start time.

To participate by phone:

Dial: 1-888-455-1397 & Reference Conference Passcode: 8604468

Conference Leaders: Jill Darling, Maria Durham

**This Agenda is Subject to Change**

  1. Opening Remarks

Chair- Maria Durham, Director, Division of Data Analysis and Market Based Pricing

Moderator – Jill Darling (Office of Communications)

Announcements & Updates

  1. Emergency Triage, Treat, and Transport (ET3) Model Update
  2. Upcoming Implementation Dates of the Repetitive, Scheduled Non-Emergent Ambulance Transport Prior Authorization Model
  3. Ground Ambulance & Patient Billing Advisory Committee Member Nomination Period
  1. CY 2022 Ambulance Inflation Factor (AIF) Change Request 12488, Transmittal 11044
  2. Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System CY 2022 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule

III. Open Q&A

**DATE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE**

Next Ambulance Open Door Forum: TBA

ODF email: AMBULANCEODF@cms.hhs.gov

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This Open Door Forum is open to everyone, but if you are a member of the Press, you may listen in but please refrain from asking questions during the Q & A portion of the call. If you have inquiries, please contact CMS at Press@cms.hhs.gov. Thank you.

Open Door Participation Instructions:

This call will be Conference Call Only.

To participate by phone:

Dial: 1-888-455-1397 & Reference Conference Passcode: 8604468

Persons participating by phone do not need to RSVP. TTY Communications Relay Services are available for the Hearing Impaired.  For TTY services dial 7-1-1 or 1-800-855-2880. A Relay Communications Assistant will help.

Instant Replay: 1-800-856-2271; Conference Passcode: No Passcode needed

Instant Replay is an audio recording of this call that can be accessed by dialing 1-800-856-2271 and entering the Conference Passcode beginning 1 hours after the call has ended. The recording is available until December 11, 2021, 11:59PM ET.

For ODF schedule updates and E-Mailing List registration, visit our website at http://www.cms.gov/OpenDoorForums/.

Were you unable to attend the recent Ambulance ODF call? We encourage you to visit our CMS Podcasts and Transcript webpage where you can listen and view the most recent Ambulance ODF call. Please allow up to three weeks to get both the audio and transcript posted to: https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/OpenDoorForums/PodcastAndTranscripts.html.

CMS provides free auxiliary aids and services including information in accessible formats. Click here for more information. This will point partners to our CMS.gov version of the “Accessibility & Nondiscrimination notice” page. Thank you.

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