IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED BY WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24 ON LETTER FROM CONGRESS TO CMS URGING EMS PAYMENT FOR TREATMENT IN PLACE AND TELEHEALTH
Please take immediate action to request your U.S. House Representative to sign onto a “Dear Colleague” letter urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) to reimburse EMS for treatment in place (TIP) and telehealth facilitation.The deadline for House Representatives to sign on is June 24.
Historically, CMS does not provide any reimbursement to EMS when a patient is not transported to a hospital. However, TIP can be the most appropriate patient care of low acuity Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries and can reduce strain on the overall healthcare system.
CMS also needs to directly reimburse EMS for facilitating emergency telehealth consultations. The current CMS interim final rule leaves it up to the individual physician to reimburse EMS for facilitation services.
Reimbursement for TIP and facilitating telehealth consultations can help mitigate some of the financial burden EMS agencies are experiencing now and into the future due to the COVID-19 pandemic, saving jobs and essential emergency medical services across communities.
Please take a moment to raiseyour voice for EMS and your patients!