Emergency Medical Services Reimbursement for On-Scene Care and Support Act
Senate Bill Would Pay Ambulance Crews for On-Scene Care, Even Without Hospital Transport
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill changes Medicare rules so ambulance companies can get paid for treating people on the scene. Currently, Medicare usually only pays if the ambulance actually drives the patient to a hospital or medical facility.
- Starting January 1, 2027, emergency crews would receive payment for their medical work regardless of whether a trip to the hospital happens. This payment would be similar to what they currently get for transporting a patient.
- This policy helps local fire departments and ambulance services stay funded. Many emergency calls are resolved by paramedics on-site, and this ensures they are paid for their time and medical supplies even if the patient stays home.
- By paying for on-scene care, the bill encourages treating patients where they are when a hospital trip isn't necessary. This could help reduce crowding in emergency rooms and save patients from expensive, unnecessary hospital bills.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Life & Work
Many private ambulance services are small businesses that lose money when they respond to calls but don't transport a patient. Under current Medicare rules, those calls go uncompensated. This bill would allow these services to bill Medicare for on-scene care at rates comparable to transport reimbursement, improving their financial stability and helping them stay in operation—especially in rural areas where call volumes are lower.
Programs
Disabilities
Milestones
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
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.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Emergency Medical Services Reimbursement for On-Scene Care and Support Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
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