Senate Bill Would Pay Ambulance Crews for On-Scene Care, Even Without Hospital Transport
Also known as: Emergency Medical Services Reimbursement for On-Scene Care and Support Act
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3 articlesBennet sponsors bill to reimburse EMS agencies for at-home treatments
Sen. Michael Bennet is co-sponsoring the Emergency Medical Services Reimbursement for On-Scene Care and Support Act (S. 3730). The bill would require Medicare to pay for emergency services provided on-scene, addressing the current rule where providers are only paid if a patient is transported.
Rural EMS Crisis and Medicare Reimbursement Discussed in Blackduck
The EMS ROCS Act aims to align Medicare's reimbursement model with services performed on-site. Currently, paramedics often provide life-saving care or minor treatments at home but receive no federal payment unless they drive the patient to a hospital, creating a funding gap for rural agencies.
Yonkers ambulance company seeks Medicare payment for treat-at-home calls
During the COVID-19 pandemic, ambulance companies provided thousands of 'treat-in-place' visits that were not reimbursable by Medicare. This article highlights the long-standing industry frustration with a reimbursement system that only pays for transportation rather than medical care.