Table of Contents

AAA to Develop Database of Auxiliary Assets

Summary of CMS Ambulance Open Door Forum of October 18

CMS Issues Medicare Guide on Rural Health Information for Providers

Contribute Prize to AMBUPAC Raffle

Medicare 101-Audio Conference With David Werfel, AAA Medicare Consultant

New Exhibit Hall Hours for Annual Convention in Las Vegas

Have You Registered for AAA's Annual Convention and Trade Show

AAA to Develop Database of Auxiliary Assets

With a remaining 42 days left of the 2005 Hurricane season, AAA is working to create a web based database to allow our members to enter their individual contact information and unit availability for future use in federally declared disasters, if we are again contacted by FEMA/GSA. Until the database is activated (sometime this month), we are requesting that members e-mail the AAA with the following contact information, in the event AAA is contacted for an additional deployment. Note: Even if you have already contacted the office, please e-mail us (lpeacock@the-aaa.org) again all the information requested below.

Primary Contact name

Company Name

Address

Work Phone Number

Cell phone Number

Pager Number

Dispatch Number

# of Units Available

Type of Units Available

Summary of CMS Ambulance Open Door Forum of October 18
by David M. werfel, Esq

On October 18, 2005, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) held its latest Open Door Forum for ambulance issues. CMS started with the following announcements:

1. Hurricanes:
- CMS has updated its links for information as to hurricane related issues.
- they have also updated the Q & A on their web site.
- HHS/FEMA will have a Press Release and Fact Sheet out very shortly.
- a contractor has been hired for repatriation of evacuees.
- the Repatriation Contractor is CareFlite.
- there are 1,000 to 6,000 people who will need help.
- CMS will pay air and ground ambulance and commercial airlines to move them.
- questions for the contractor can be directed to: jadams@careflite.org
- patients need to obtain a registry number.
- they can get the Registry number by calling (800) 621-FEMA.
- providers will need a medical necessity form.
- the Discharge Planner will determine the mode of transportation.
- returns to Louisiana are on hold, for now.

2. Undocumented Aliens - Aside from a brief summary of the law requiring that payments be made, they also announced:
- TrailBlazer, is publishing information on its web site.
- the website address is: www.section.1011@trailblazerhealth.com
- TrailBlazer has completed its outreach programs in 7 states.
- they can now receive claims
- over 200 ambulance companies tried to enroll but did not complete the process.
- it is a two-part enrollment process: (1) electronic and (2) paper signature.
- 2,200 have signed up for their List Serv (sign up off their web site).
- they are having an "Ask the Contractor call" on 10/19.

3. Hospice - A summary was given of the hospice benefit. Nothing new was provided, but they did remind everyone that the hospice is only responsible for services related to the terminal illness and, even then, only if they called for the services and only if the patient made the hospice election, signed and filed the election before the service is provided.

Following the announcements, there were 7 questions. Clarifications that came out of this were:
- Condition Codes - No date yet for the transmittal. The AAA is reviewing their latest draft then they have to circulate it again within CMS for approval.
- Hospital to hospital calls can be emergencies. It depends on how you were dispatched.
- Hospital to hospital, nearest appropriate facility - The ambulance company should try to keep a list of which hospitals can provide specialty services and when. CMS acknowledged the difficulty in doing so, in real time.

The other questions involved individual problems referred to the CMS Regional Office or were answers that were not new.

There were 176 callers on line.

The next call may be December 14, 2005.

CMS Issues Medicare Guide on Rural Health Information for Providers

CMS has just released the "The Medicare Guide to Rural Health Services Information for Providers, Suppliers and Physicians," which offers rural health information in a single source. The Guide is now available in electronic downloadable format at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medlearn/MedRuralGuide.pdf on the CMS website. Print and CD-Rom versions of the guide will be available in late November, free of charge, from the Medicare Learning Network's web page at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medlearn/default.asp?link=products on the CMS website.

Contribute Prize to AMBUPAC Raffle

At the AAA Annual Conference and Trade Show in Las Vegas in late November through early December, there will be a raffle to benefit the AAA Federal Political Action Committee (AMBUPAC). All proceeds from the raffle will go to AMBUPAC which contributes funds to the political committees of Members of Congress. If you or your organization is interested in donating a prize for the raffle, please contact AAA Vice President of Government Affairs Tristan North at tnorth@the-aaa.org.

Medicare 101-Audio Conference with David Werfel, AAA Medicare Consultant

Do you have situations where you are unsure how to properly bill Medicare? Do you have new billing employees? Are you getting conflicting advice from your Carrier and others you turn to for help? Register and get your questions answered by David Werfel, AAA Medicare Consultant and the man considered to be the quintessential expert on Medicare reimbursement issues.

If interested, print and complete the attached registration form.

If you have any questions, please contact the AAA at (800) 523-4447.

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