Medicare Pilot Program: Paying Ambulances for Treatment Without Transport.
This law establishes a 5-year pilot program under Medicare (Part B) allowing emergency medical services (EMS) providers to be paid for treating patients at the scene of an emergency call, even if the patient is not transported to a hospital. This aims to improve access to care for Medicare beneficiaries by ensuring they receive necessary emergency treatment without mandatory hospital visits when safe to remain home. Payment rates will match those for services resulting in transport.
Key points
Ambulance services can now receive Medicare payment for treating beneficiaries at the location of the emergency call (Treatment-in-Place Model), eliminating the requirement for hospital transport.
The 5-year pilot program seeks to evaluate the impact of this model on patient outcomes, resource use, and overall healthcare efficiency for Medicare recipients.
The change directly affects Medicare beneficiaries, potentially reducing unnecessary emergency room visits and associated costs.
Expired
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