The post 2023 Year-End Government Affairs Update appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

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The post AAA Releases 2024 Medicare Rate Calculator appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

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The post Impact of Partial Government Shutdown on Healthcare appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

Earlier today, Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA) introduced the Preserving Access to Ground Ambulance Medical Services Act of 2023. […]

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The AAA has sent a letter to VA Secretary Denis McDonough asking him to delay the implementation of a final rule that would allow the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) […]

The post Letter to VA Reimbursement of Ambulance Services appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

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The post EMS Coalition PAYGO Letter to Congressional Leadership appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

On November 23, 2022, CMS posted the 2023 Ambulance Fee Schedule Public Use Files. These files contain the amounts that will be allowed by Medicare in the calendar year 2023 […]

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The post CMS Update-CY 2023 Final Ambulance Fee Schedule appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

On October 14, 2022, CMS issued Transmittal 11642 (Change Request 12948), which announced the Medicare Ambulance Inflation Factor (AIF) for the calendar year 2023. The AIF is calculated by measuring […]

The post CMS Announces 2023 Ambulance Inflation Factor appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

The Biden Administration has issued a list of expiring programs and items that they would like to see or have no objection to being, extended as part of the FY2023 […]

The post Administration Includes Ambulance Add-Ons Extension on CR List appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the latest enrollment figures for Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). These programs serve as key connectors to care […]

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Yesterday, the American Ambulance Association Board of Directors approved the Association’s advocacy priorities for 2022. Our key initiatives reflect the challenges we face this year, including short-sighted threats to EMS […]

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The post AAA Releases 2022 Medicare Rate Calculator appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

The post House Passes Sequestration Cut Delay Bill appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

As previously reported by the AAA, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced that it will open on September 29, Phase 4 of the Provider Relief Fund […]

The post HHS Provides More Details on Phase 4 and Rural Provider Relief Fund Distribution appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

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The post AAA Releases 2019 National and State-Specific Medicare Data appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

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The post 2021 Medicare Rate Calculator Released appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

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The post CMS Releases the Fourth IFC on Removing Barriers to Medicare Beneficiaries Receiving COVID Vaccines appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

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The post CMS To Phase-In Expansion of Medicare Prior Authorization Model appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

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The post CMS Announces 2021 Ambulance Inflation Factor appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

On October 8, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a Fact Sheet setting forth the repayment terms for advances made under the Medicare Accelerated and Advance […]

The post CMS: Revised Repayment Terms for Medicare Accelerated Payments appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

The post CMS Releases Update Guidance on Hospital EMTALA Obligations Related to COVID-19 appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

On March 16, 2020, CMS approved an 1135 Waiver request submitted by the State of Florida. The State had requested the flexibility to waive prior authorization requirements, streamline its Medicaid […]

The post CMS Grants State of Florida’s 1135 Waiver Request for Coronavirus Response appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

On March 13, 2020, President Donald J. Trump announced a national state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, HHS Secretary Alex Azar had declared a public health […]

The post Understanding Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Coverage of Ambulance Services under a Declared National State of Emergency appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

The American Ambulance Association is pleased to announce the publication of its 2018 Medicare Payment Data Report. This report is based on the “Early Edition” of the 2018 Part B […]

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On April 1, 2019, CMS implemented a new series of Common Working File (CWF) edits that it stated would better identify ground ambulance transports that were furnished in connection with […]

The post New SNF Consolidated Billing Edits: FAQs appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

The American Ambulance Association has been working hard to accomplish the legislative goals of the membership in the 116th Congress. The AAA would like to take this opportunity to provide an […]

The post Update on AAA Legislative Priorities appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

On April 1, 2019, CMS implemented a new series of Common Working File (CWF) edits that are intended to better identify ground ambulance transports that are furnished in connection with […]

The post New SNF PPS Edits Highlight the Importance of Facility Agreements appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

CMS Set to Implement New Common Working File Edits to Identify Ambulance Services Provided in Connection with Outpatient Hospital Services that should be bundled to the SNF under Consolidated Billing. […]

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CMS Set to Implement New Common Working File Edits to Identify Ambulance Services Provided in Connection with Outpatient Hospital Services that should be bundled to the SNF under Consolidated Billing […]

The post CMS SNF Edits Go Into Effect – April 1, 2019 appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

As the government shutdown drags on the negative impacts continue to grow. If the shutdown continues through January 24, 2019, which is looking likely at this point, current law will […]

The post Update on Government Shutdown and Sequestration appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

On November 28, 2018, CMS posted the 2019 Ambulance Fee Schedule Public Use Files. These files contain the amounts that will be allowed by Medicare in calendar year 2019 for […]

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The American Ambulance Association is pleased to announce the publication of its 2017 Medicare Payment Data Report. This report is based on the Physician/Supplier Procedure Summary Master File. This report […]

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The post Talking Medicare: CMS Implements Further Dialysis Cuts appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

Talking Medicare: Recent DOJ Settlement Highlights Importance of Exclusion Testing On July 17, 2018, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine issued a press release on a settlement that […]

The post Talking Medicare: DOJ Settlement Highlights Importance of Exclusion Testing appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

OIG Report – Overpayments For Non-Emergency Ambulance Transports To Non-Covered Destinations The Office of the Inspector General released its report “Medicare Improperly Paid Providers for Non Emergency Ambulance Transports to […]

The post OIG Report on Overpayments For Non-Emergency Transports appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

The AAA would like to take this opportunity to update members on a number of issues related to Medicare reimbursement: CMS and its contractors have begun adjusting claims for ground […]

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CMS held its latest Open Door Forum on Wednesday, March 7, 2018. As with past Open Door Forums, CMS started the call with the following series of announcements: Medicare Fee […]

The post Summary of March 2018 Ambulance Open Door Forum appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

CMS Posts Updated 2018 Public Use File; OIG Guidance on Waiver of Small Cost-Sharing Balances Updated AAA 2018 Medicare Rate Calculator Now Available! The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services […]

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Veterans Administration Issues Interim Final Rule Expanding Coverage of Ambulance Services under Millennium Bill On January 9, 2018, the Department of Veterans Affairs issued an interim final rule that would […]

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CMS Extends Temporary Moratorium on Non-Emergency Ground Ambulance Services in New Jersey and Pennsylvania On January 30, 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a notice in […]

The post CMS Extends Moratorium on Non-Emergency Ground Services appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

The Great Medicare Debate: Should I Hold My Medicare Claims? By: Brian S. Werfel, Esq. and Rebecca Williamson, Chair, AAA Medicare Regulatory Committee Ambulance suppliers face an important decision at the start […]

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The post Alert: Medicare Increases Will Expire For Now: What You Need to Know appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

On December 14, 2017, CMS held its latest Open Door Forum. As usual, it started with a few announcements, as follows: Ambulance Inflation Factor – CMS announced that it had […]

The post Summary of December 2017 Ambulance Open Door Forum appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

In order to assist with the disaster response to Hurricane Harvey, CMS has announced that it has lifted the temporary moratorium on the enrollment of new Part B non-emergency ambulance […]

The post CMS Lifts Moratorium Enrollment Non-Emergency Providers (TX) appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

On September 14, 2017, CMS held its latest Open Door Forum. As usual, it started with a few announcements, as follows: “Locality” Rule – On 6/16/17 CMS issued Transmittal 236, […]

The post Summary of September 2017 Ambulance Open Door Forum appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

The American Ambulance Association is pleased to announce the publication of its 2016 Medicare Payment Data Report. This report is based on the Physician/Supplier Procedure Summary Master File. This report […]

The post 2016 National and State-Specific Medicare Data appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

A Preliminary Estimate of 2018 Medicare Rates In this blog, I will provide a preliminary estimate of the Ambulance Inflation Factor (AIF) for calendar year 2018.  The AIF is main […]

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CMS Extends Temporary Moratorium on Non-Emergency Ground Ambulance Services in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Texas On July 28, 2017, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a notice […]

The post CMS Extends Moratorium on Non-Emergency Ground Ambulance appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

Maxmed is a home health agency. In 2011, Medicare reviewed a sample of 40 claims involving 22 Medicare beneficiaries and determined that all but one were not medically necessary. The sample […]

The post Court Decision Overpayment Determination Statistical Sampling appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

On June 16, 2017, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released Transmittal 236. This Transmittal makes some minor changes to Chapter 10 of the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual. […]

The post Talking Medicare: CMS Transmittal 236 appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

Over the past few weeks, we have been contacted by a number of ambulance suppliers that have received letters from the HHS Office of the Inspector General (OIG). These letters […]

The post OIG Looking into SNF Consolidated Billing Claims appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

CMS has issued an MLN Ambulance Transports Booklet. The booklet (36 pages) can be downloaded here. One section of the Booklet that you might want to keep handy involves Free-Standing Emergency Departments. Specifically, […]

The post CMS – MLN Ambulance Transports Booklet appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

Talking Medicare with Brian S. Werfel, AAA Medicare Consultant Over the past few weeks, we have received emails from ambulance providers across the country reporting that UnitedHealthCare (UHC) has started […]

The post UnitedHealthCare Denials for ALS-2 Claims appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

Medicare Ambulance Relief and Reform The top legislative priority this year for the American Ambulance Association is to extend, or hopefully make permanent, the temporary Medicare ambulance add-on payments. The […]

The post Government Affairs Update: Protecting the Ambulance Add-ons appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the “Marketplace Stabilization Proposed Rule” (Proposed Rule). Overall, the rule proposes a series of modifications to the Marketplaces that align […]

The post Administration’s Proposed Rule on Marketplace Stabilization appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

On January 9, 2017, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a notice in the Federal Register extending the temporary moratoria on the enrollment of new Medicare Part […]

The post CMS Extends Temporary Moratorium (NJ, PA, TX) appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services (CMS) issued Transmittal 3625 officially announcing that the inflation factor for payments under the Medicare ambulance fee schedule for 2017 will be 0.7%. […]

The post CMS Announces 2017 Inflation Factor appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

In May 2014, CMS announced the implementation of a three-year prior authorization demonstration project for repetitive scheduled non-emergency ambulance transports.  CMS initially elected to limit this demonstration to three states: […]

The post Prior Authorization Data Shows Dramatic Reductions in Spending on Dialysis Transports appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

Prior Authorization – Repetitive Non-Emergencies – Expansion Delay CMS has notified the American Ambulance Association that the expansion of Prior Authorization for repetitive non-emergencies, to the states not already on […]

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This advisory is for members who have Novitas as their Medicare Administrative Contractor. On August 17, 2016, Novitas called me to let me know that they are seeing many ambulance […]

The post Novitas – Denials appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

The AAA is providing its members with the results of two important surveys conducted of state laws impacting ambulance services.  The first chart entitled “2016 State Balance Billing Survey” shows […]

The post AAA 2016 State Balanced Billing & Direct Pay Survey Results Released appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

 On July 15, 2016, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its monthly report on inflation.  This release includes the change in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) […]

The post A Preliminary Estimate of 2017 Medicare Rates appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

MedPAC Issues June 2016 Report to the Congress with Chapter on Improving Efficiency and Preserving Access to Emergency Care in Rural Areas Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC or the Commission) has […]

The post MedPAC Issues June 2016 Report to the Congress appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

On May 13, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report entitled “Claim Review Programs Could Be Improved with Additional Prepayment Reviews and Better Data“. In the report, the GAO […]

The post AAA Issues Response to GAO Claims Report appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

On Friday, May 13, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) publicly released a new Medicare report entitled, “Claim Review Programs Could Be Improved with Additional Prepayment Reviews and Better Data,” which […]

The post The GAO Releases New Report on Claims Review Programs, Recommending Additional Prepayment Review Authority and Written Guidance on Calculating Savings from Prepayment Review appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

On May 5, 2016, CMS publicly released the “Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data: Physician and Other Supplier Public Use File,” which provides information on the services and procedures provided […]

The post CMS Releases Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data for CY 2014 for Ambulance Suppliers, Physicians and Other Part B Organizations appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

CMS released preliminary data on the impact of the prior authorization demonstration program on Medicare payments for ambulance services.  This data is limited to the three states (NJ, PA, and […]

The post Prior Authorization Pilot Program – Status Update appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released its report on the feasibility of collecting cost data from ambulance service providers.  Under the American Taxpayer Relief Act of […]

The post CMS Releases Ambulance Cost Data Collection Report appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

The post CMS Announces 2016 Inflation Factor appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

Late breaking AAA Conference update: In order to address a Medicare reimbursement issue we feel is critical, AAA has decided to modify the Tuesday afternoon conference session being led by Brian S. Werfel, […]

The post HHS OIG Report Discussion Added to Annual Conference appeared first on American Ambulance Association.

On July 8, 2015, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a display copy of a proposed rule titled “Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies under the Physician […]

The post CMS Issues Proposed Rule for Calendar Year 2016 appeared first on American Ambulance Association.