January 11, 2006
E-Update

Condition Codes are Finally Here!
Sign Up Now for the
AAA Audio Conferences

As reported last week in an AAA Member Advisory, on December 23, 2005 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a Change Request (Transmittal 789) on the condition codes. The Change Request included a revised list of the condition codes and instructions on how to use the codes. Effective March 27, 2006, Medicare Carriers and Fiscal Intermediaries will now be required to accept the condition codes but the use of the codes is still voluntary on the part of the supplier or provider.

The AAA will be hosting teleconferences on January 17 and January 23 on the condition codes. To sign up for one of the teleconferences, simply complete the attached flyer and e-mail it to Allison Urquieta at aurquieta@the-aaa.org or fax it to Allison at (703) 610-9005.

We also encourage AAA members to invite representatives of their Medicare Carrier of Fiscal Intermediary to participate on the audio conference at no charge. Simply forward the attached “Carrier Complimentary Reg Form” to your Carrier or Fiscal Intermediary and ask that he or she complete the form and return it to Allison Urquieta.

 

Registration Open for 2006 EMS Today Conference and Expo in Balitmore

 

American Ambulance Association is partnering Jems to present the Advanced Management Academy at the 2006 EMS Today Conference and Expo in Baltimore. The AAA is uniquely qualified to lend its expertise and provide resources that will complement the educational sessions at EMS Today –

The AAA Advanced Management Track will focus on key industry issues with the following sessions:

Please fill out attached registration form and be sure to check the box “Yes, I am an American Ambulance Association Member.”

Register today and save!

For more information on the EMS Today Conference and Expo in Baltimore please click here.

 

ACEP Releases Report Card on State of Emergency Medicine

 

On January 10, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) issued “The National Report Card on the State of Emergency Medicine.” In the report card, the nation’s emergency medical care system received an overall grade of C-. According to the ACEP press release, the “[Report Card] finds an emergency care system characterized by overcrowding, declining access to care, soaring liability costs and a poor capacity to deal with public health or terrorist disasters.”

Of particular interest to ambulance service providers, ACEP conducted a survey on ambulance diversion. Below is a summary of their findings on the issue.

Ambulance Diversion Survey

The report cards include the first-ever national survey of state government emergency medicine services officials on ambulance diversion. The Quality and Patient Safety category included the question, “Does the state require hospitals to submit data on diversions?” The survey sought to determine which states, on a statewide basis, require reporting on the frequency of diversions. State government emergency medical services (EMS) offices were contacted by telephone to obtain this information.

The survey found that only 10 states currently collect this data. Only with adequate data about the extent of the diversion problem will the country begin to confront this serious problem. ACEP is calling on all states, as well as the federal government, to begin systematic monitoring of ambulance diversion. Gathering this data will allow the nation to know the true dimensions of this rapidly growing symptom of the gridlock in emergency departments. Understanding the scope of the issue is the logical first step in confronting a complex and critical issue.

To review the complete findings of the report card, please access the ACEP website at:
http://my.acep.org/site/PageServer?pagename=wp1_homepage.

Sign Up for AAA Lobby Days and RTF Meeting

 

On February 7 to 9, the AAA will be holding Lobby Days and a Reimbursement Task Force Meeting in Washington, DC. The Lobby Days will provide you with an opportunity to meet with your Members of Congress and their staff on important policy issues including Medicare reimbursement. We have advocacy guru Christopher Kush providing attendees with an interactive advocacy training session to help prepare you for your meetings. There will also be an AAA Federal Reimbursement Task Force meeting on February 7. So don't miss this opportunity to meet with your Members of Congress and have a direct voice in the formation of AAA reimbursement policy.

A brochure with registration form is attached to this E-Update. The brochure contains a full schedule of events and information on the program. So complete and return the registration form and start scheduling your meetings!