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Announcing the long-awaited release of the Trauma Agenda for the Future:

This report presents a Trauma System Agenda for the Future, reflecting the synergism of ideas generated from literally hundreds of professionals and based on decades of experience. These professionals believe this is the appropriate time to launch a new initiative, attacking trauma on all fronts to make a difference to our country and to each victim or potential victim. The agenda for the future includes information relevant to injury prevention, EMS acute care, post acute care, planning, finance and much more......http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/ems/emstraumasystem03/index.htm

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) PA Case

Pennsylvania EMS Statistics 2002

Health Alert - - - - click for more information - 03/19/03

DNR Law: Training Material | Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders [32 Pa.B. 6117] | PA Department of Health

MEDICARE POLICY UPDATE T-21 (REIMBURSEMENT OF CERTAIN DISPOSABLE SUPPLIES)

Pennsylvania's Medicare carrier, HGSA, has updated their policy on covered ambulance services. Specifically, they have updated the guideline and will now reimburse ambulance providers for certain disposable supplies.

This policy is for Method 3 and 4 Billers and will be effective with dates of service of 1/11/2003 and forward.

Supplies that are non-reusable and disposable may be covered when they are used in the care of the patient and they are medically necessary.

Supply codes may only be utilized for disposable supplies that represent the cost to the ambulance provider. Additionally, suppliers may not bill for items that have been restocked from a facility. Only those supplies that have been purchased by the supplier may be billed to and reimbursed by the carrier.

Supply codes will only be reimbursed once per transport, regardless of the number of items used during the transport.

Below are examples of the type of supplies that may be reported as disposable supplies. This is not an all-inclusive list, but it is representative of the types of supplies allowed under these code categories.

 

 

 

 

 

Remember that under the fee schedule phase in period we are in year 2 and the percentage that Medicare will allow will be at 60% and that we will get 80% of the allowable. At the end of the phase in period, 1/1/2006 the full fee schedule will be in effect.

For each supply code you should bill your actual costs for the supplies and adjust accordingly…

The full Medicare policy (T-21) can be viewed at the HGSA web site. Review the entire document, update your billing staff or if you out source billing contact your billing company for assistance. HGSA's web site: www.hgsa.com/professionsls/policy-notice/t2i.html

This is a huge win for ambulance providers in the Commonwealth and the Ambulance Association of Pa. This project has been on our plate for many years and I wish to thank all who participated in this process. Without our active memberships support the association cannot affect these types of change.

Please distribute this to all ambulance providers. Questions can be directed to the Ambulance Association of Pa. at 610-768-8068.

EMSOF Funding Priorities - click for more information !

Ambulance Fee Schedule Final Rule and Reimbursement Strategies The United States Fire Administration (USFA), part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is pleased to provide the following information module regarding the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Ambulance Fee Schedule Final Rule. Since its inception, USFA has been committed to providing information and technical assistance to local-level fire and EMS departments, and others in a wide variety of management and operational areas...Click for more!

HHS Releases Final HIPAA Patient Privacy Regulation. TIn 1996, Congress recognized the need for national patient privacy standards, and, as part of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), set a three-year deadline for it to enact such protections. HIPAA also required that, if Congress did not meet this deadline, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) was to adopt health information privacy protections via regulation based upon certain specific parameters included in HIPAA. Congress did not enact health privacy legislation.

The federal privacy regulation empowers patients by guaranteeing them access to their medical records, giving them more control over how their protected health information is used and disclosed, and providing a clear avenue of recourse if their medical privacy is compromised. The rule will protect medical records and other personal health information maintained by certain health care providers, hospitals, health plans, health insurers and health care clearinghouses.

Among the issues covered under the privacy rule:

*Patients must give specific authorization before entities covered by this regulation could use or disclose protected information in most non-routine circumstances - such as releasing information to an employer or for use in marketing activities. Doctors, health plans and other covered entities would be required to follow the rule's standards for the use and disclosure of personal health information.

*Covered entities generally will need to provide patients with written notice of their privacy practices and patients' privacy rights. The notice will contain information that could be useful to patients choosing a health plan, doctor or other provider. Patients would generally be asked to sign or otherwise acknowledge receipt of the privacy notice from direct treatment providers.

The final version of the privacy rule will be published in the August 14, 2002 Federal Register. The rule is currently available online at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa. Most covered entities have until April 14, 2003 to comply with the patient privacy rule. Under the law, certain small health plans have until April 14, 2004 to comply.

To help prepare for and meet the rule's requirements, HHS's Office of Civil Rights (OCR) will continue to conduct outreach and education targeted to health plans, health care providers, consumers and others affected by the privacy regulation. Technical assistance materials will be posted on OCR's privacy rule website at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa.

If you have questions or need more information about this public policy update, please contact any member of the public policy staff of the National Resource Center for Health Programs and Strategies at 202-884-4927.

Children at W.R. Croman Elementary in Troy, PA Recognize EMS Week with Art. The children used brown bags & crayons as their media to create their art for EMS week. The children then observed the proclimation proccess with The Western Alliance EMS group. Shown, are the works of art by Alex and Megan. Also shown - Western Alliance EMS group with Bradford County commissioners, displaying the childrens art work.

Greater Valley EMS is proud to announce the newest division to our services. The opportunity has existed for expanded medical coverage at our area's events. The time has come for GVEMS to introduce our medical response Bike Team. Bradford / Susquehanna Emergency Health Council and Wal-Mart donated two mountain style bikes for this use. The team has been formed to use as an additional resource when GVEMS is requested to provide stand-by services at our local events. The team will consist of a minimum of 2 bikers and an ambulance for transportation if the need arises. The bikes are equipped so they will be capable of providing immediate medical treatment with such supplies as bandaging, splints, and oxygen therapy. The bike team will be in continuous communication with each other and the county communications center. This style team has been proved highly successful across the country and has provided the model for our team to be developed. Our local area has seen the benefits from the Waverly police Bike patrol team and our team will no doubt be an asset to our community.

Ridgebury Volunteer Fire Co., Inc. have completed the Voluntary Rescue Service Recognition Program. They have the distinction of being the first rescue service in the Bradford / Susquehanna Region to complete this process. The process included the assembly of a large amount of specialty rescue equipment and training of the organization. The application has been forwarded to the Department of Health for final review, in conjunction with the state fire commissioners office. The goal of this program is to take rescue service to a higher level, in areas such as water, rope, vehicle and other rescue specialties.

Guthrie Teams Up on Stress Debriefing - The Guthrie Endless Mountains Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) team is fully staffed and operating in Bradford and Susquehanne counties. The program provides stress management for individuals or groups that have endured a traumatic event, usually with 24 - 48 hours of an incident. The program began more than ten years ago and gained momentum in recent months.

CISM Administrative Director Brent Meadows said that rescue workers traditionally utilize this service, but it is available to the public as well. "We know that rescue workers aren't the only people who go through traumatic events. The service is easy to use and it is completely confidential. We keep no records of names or narratives. It is an opportunity to debrief people after an event."

Meadows explained that 30 people, including nurses, mental health professionals, EMT's, firefighters and paramedics make up three CISM teams. Each team is on-call for one week at a time and all members have pagers to respond. Calls come to the Communications Center (1-800-535-0911) where a communications specialist answers and pages the CISM team leader. The team leader confers with the mental health professional on the team and decides the best course of action, whether it is notifying the rest of the team or only certain members.

All team members go through a 16-hour basic training program to provide this service, with continuing education twice monthly. "Our team will help people with the first stages of trauma, explain what they can expect, the biological effects of trauma and give people a chance to vent and absorb everything," Meadows said. The team may also suggest continued care with an appropriate professional. "We keep no records of who we triage, so it is completely confidential."

Bradford Susquehanna EMS Council BSems.org