Table of Contents

House Appropriations Passes EMS Set Aside Language

House Homeland Security Committee Passes H.R. 5351

NPI and Enrollment Application
Forwarded from CMS

Strengthening Preparedness for Hurricane Season Fact Sheet
Forwarded from U.S. Department of Homeland Security

First Call for Articles - Summer 2006 Edition of Ambulance Service Journal

AAA Advocacy: Ambulance Fuel Tax Relief

AAA Advocacy: Temporary Medicare Ambulance Relief

2006 Summer Reimbursement Conference

CMS Announces Details of Next Ambulance Open Door Forum

Electronic Remittance Advice
Forwarded from CMS

Member Question: Issues You'd Like to See Covered?

AAA News Clipping Service Renewals due by June 1!!!

Mark Your Calendar: August Audioconference

ASM 2007 Session

House Appropriations Committee Passes EMS Set Aside Language

On May 17, the House Appropriations Committee on Homeland Security passed the FY07 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill.  The report language accompanying the bill included the provision that would require state and local governments to distribute no less than 10% of applicable Homeland Security funding to EMS providers.  The language would result in approximately $150 million in additional funding in FY07 to EMS providers.  Subcommittee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-KY) had included the language after learning last year from AAA members in Kentucky that they were receiving very little funding for preparing and responding to a potential terrorist attack.  The bill is on the House calendar and could be considered as soon as Thursday with Senate consideration expected this summer.

House Homeland Security Committee Passes H.R. 5351

On May 17, the House Committee on Homeland Security reported favorably by a vote of 28 to zero the "National Emergency Management Reform and Enhancement Act of 2006" (H.R. 5351). The legislation would reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and restructure the preparedness and response functions within the Department of Homeland Security.  The AAA advocated successfully to include language in H.R. 5351 which would change the definition of “emergency responder provider” to include governmental and non-governmental EMS providers.  The legislation was also referred to the House Committees on Energy and Commerce and Transportation and Infrastructure which have yet to consider it.

NPI and Enrollment Application
Forwarded from CMS

On May 1, 2006, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) introduced the revised CMS 855 Medicare provider enrollment applications.  As part of the revised enrollment process, initial enrollees and existing enrollees making changes to their enrollment information must include their National Provider Identifier (NPI) number and a copy of the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) NPI notification with the enrollment application.  No initial application can be approved and no updates to existing enrollment information can be made without this NPI information.  All health care providers and suppliers who bill Medicare are required to obtain their NPI in advance of enrolling in or changing their Medicare enrollment data.

If you are an individual or sole proprietor, who furnishes health care, you are eligible for one and only one NPI.  If you are an individual who is a health care provider and who is incorporated, you may need to obtain an NPI for yourself and an NPI for your corporation or LLC.  If you are an organization that furnishes health care, you may determine that you have components, called "subparts," that need their own NPI.  For additional information about the NPI, please go to: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalProvIdentStand/.

If you have not yet obtained your NPI number, CMS encourages you to do so soon even if you are not enrolling or making a change to your Medicare enrollment information.  An information sheet designed to provide basic information about the NPI, including the three different ways to apply for your NPI is available at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicareProviderSupEnroll/downloads/EnrollmentSheet_WWWWH.pdf.  Whatever method you use to obtain your NPI, be sure to keep this information, share it with your health care partners, and update your information with NPPES whenever any of the information used to get your NPI changes.

Starting May 23, 2007, the NPI will replace all of your existing provider numbers that you use to bill Medicare, Medicaid, and other health care payers.  Although this date is still a year away, you should begin sharing this information with Medicare, other payers, and your other health care partners in order to make the transition to NPI as smooth as possible.

For more information about the revised provider enrollment process, please contact your Medicare contractor or go to: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicareProviderSupEnroll/.

STRENGTHENING PREPAREDNESS FOR HURRICANE SEASON FACT SHEET

Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security

DHS is dramatically increasing the nation’s stockpiles of relief supplies, retooling FEMA for the 21st century, updating disaster plans, supporting our state and local partners, and emphasizing individual and community preparedness.

1. DRAMATICALLY INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF RELIEF SUPPLIES Four times the emergency meals and ice, and 2.5 times the water are available this year than were available prior to Hurricane Katrina. These supplies have the capacity to sustain 1 million people for a period of one week.

Stocking Relief Supplies: Before Katrina, 180 trucks with Meals
Ready-To-Eat (MREs), 600 trucks with water, and 430 trucks with ice
were in stock. Today, there are 770 trucks with MREs, 1,540 trucks
with water, and 2,030 trucks with ice in stock.

2. UPDATING THE NATIONAL RESPONSE PLAN
The NRP guides the federal response during certain disasters. Applying the lessons-learned from the last hurricane season, DHS has revised the NRP to refine and clarify this critical document.

Clarifying Roles and Responsibilities: The process for designating
an event an Incident of National Significance has been clarified. A
formal process is now in place for the DHS Secretary to affirmatively
declare that such an event exists. The Catastrophic Incident Annex
has been updated to provide more flexibility in pre-deploying assets.

Establishing the National Operations Center: The successor to the
Homeland Security Operations Center, the NOC will provide a common
operating picture across government by providing a central point of
coordination and situational awareness in an incident. A new
Incident Advisory Council will assume the functions of the
Interagency Incident Management Group (IIMG).

3. RETOOLING FEMA FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
FEMA is being provided 21st century tools and technologies to maximize the agency’s response capabilities.

Building a Cutting-Edge Tracking System for Relief Supplies: A
system is currently in place in hurricane-prone FEMA regions IV
(Atlanta) and VI (Fort Worth). This system will track the shipment
of relief supplies in much the same way that private sector entities
track their goods.

Strengthening Communication and Situational Awareness: DHS is
building enhanced communications capabilities for federal, state, and
local responders in the event of a collapse of the normal
communications system. Self-sustaining strike teams comprised of 30
law enforcement officers have been created for immediate deployment
to gather real-time and accurate information that can be relayed to
DHS leadership and the field, including streaming video.

Enhancing FEMA’s Customer Service: FEMA’s abilities to receive
requests for assistance, protect against fraud and abuse and adjust
to changing needs of disaster populations during significant recovery
periods are being enhanced. FEMA will have the capacity to handle
200,000 assistance calls per day and ChoicePoint anti-fraud
technology has been installed to track disaster claims.

Expediting the Pace of Debris Removal: Katrina left over 100 million
cubic yards of debris in its wake over a span of 90,000 square miles.
In order to streamline the debris removal process and ensure quick
reimbursement for services, FEMA is establishing solid contracting
practices to help communities quickly begin recovery operations. When
it makes economic sense, local construction companies will be allowed
to more fully participate in debris removal.

An Experienced and Capable Leadership Team Has Been Named for FEMA:
The new senior leadership team brings over 100 years of combined
experience to the agency. Under Secretary-designate David Paulison
is a distinguished, well-respected emergency manager, with over 30
years of experience at local, state, and federal levels, including as
Miami-Dade fire chief during Hurricane Andrew.

Filling Vacancies at FEMA: To date, 85% of the vacancies at FEMA
have been filled and the agency is continuing to fill positions
through Chief Paulison’s 95/95 initiative. By early July, FEMA
expects to fully meet their 95% goal.

4. IMPROVING COORDINATION WITH LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL PARTNERS By reviewing state and local disaster plans, collocating decision-makers, and pre-designating federal leadership, DHS is improving coordination across all levels of government.

Reviewing State and Local Disaster Plans: Through the National Plan
Review, DHS has completed visits to 131 sites (50 states, 6
territories, and 75 major urban areas) and is reviewing the disaster
and evacuation plans for each. These reviews will allow DHS to
identify deficiencies and recommend improvements.

Collocating Decision Makers: Local, state, and federal leadership
will be collocated in Joint Field Offices (JFOs) to improve lines of
communication and increase the level of coordination.
Representatives of the Department of Defense will also collocate so
their resources can be fully leveraged in a disaster.

Pre-Designating Federal Disaster Coordinators: DHS has
pre-designated a trained cadre of incident commanders to coordinate,
plan, and train with state and local officials. 5 Principal Federal
Officials (PFOs) and deputies and a number of Federal Coordinating
Officers (FCOs) have been pre-assigned for hurricane-vulnerable
states, regions, and territories including: Alabama, Delaware, the
District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland,
Mississippi, New England, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas, Virginia, and the Virgin Islands.

Fully Leveraging the Resources of the Federal Government: Prior to
Hurricane Katrina, only 13 mission assignments were pre-scripted for
other departments. This year, there are 31. A greater number of
pre-scripted mission assignments will allow supplies and services to
reach the field faster. Examples of areas in which these mission
assignments apply are medical support, medical evacuation,
communications, transportation, mobilization centers, and staging
areas.

· Roles and Responsibilities: State and local governments are
closest to those impacted by natural disasters, and have always been
the lead in response and recovery. The federal government acts in a
supporting role, providing assistance, logistical support, and
certain supplies. In the past few months, Secretary Chertoff has met
with the governors of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama,
Florida, and Virginia to assess needs and strengthen coordination.

5. EMPHASIZING INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS Individual and community preparedness are civic virtues. By taking simple steps to prepare, citizens can allow authorities to devote scarce resources to those who need help the most.

Prepare an Emergency Supply Kit and Family Emergency Plan:
Individuals and families should prepare emergency supply kits with
food, water, battery operated radios and medicines. Families should
also make emergency plans that include how and where they would
evacuate, shelter-in-place and communicate with one another. For
more information on preparing for emergencies, please visit
www.ready.gov.

Listen to Local Authorities: Individuals should pay careful
attention to the advice of local authorities. By self-evacuating,
the “able-bodied” can allow authorities to devote resources where
they are needed the most.

DHS is Working with Gas Stations to Ensure the Availability of Fuel:
As was seen during Hurricane Wilma, gas stations play a pivotal role
in the aftermath of a storm. DHS is strongly encouraging gas
stations to maintain power generators to ensure the availability of
fuel in the potential hurricane impact zone.

AMERICAN AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION

First Call for Articles

The American Ambulance Association is now looking for articles for the Summer 2006 edition of the Ambulance Service Journal. Please contact Stacy Bromley at sbromley@the-aaa.org or 703-610-0247 with questions or articles.

AAA Advocating for Ambulance Fuel Tax Relief

At its meeting on May 7 in Washington, DC, the AAA Board of Directors discussed the impact that high gas prices are having on AAA members.  The Board voted unanimously in favor of the AAA advocating for relief from high gas prices by asking Congress to temporarily eliminate the federal excise tax on fuel for ambulance service providers.  Patton Boggs, the AAA’s advocacy firm has already initiated meetings on Capitol Hill regarding this issue and we will be reaching out in the near future to AAA members for their assistance in contacting Members of Congress.

AAA Advocating for Temporary Medicare Ambulance Relief

Last year, Congress was able to provide only a short-term fix to the reductions physicians were facing under the Medicare physician fee schedule.  With the threat of reductions again looming if Congress does not act, there is a possibility that Congress will push another temporary fix for the physicians.  At the meeting on May 7, the AAA Board of Directors voted to support the AAA advocating for temporary Medicare ambulance relief in the event Congress provides temporary Medicare relief to other providers.  The AAA will continue to also push for the long-term permanent Medicare relief called for in the Medicare Ambulance Payment Reform and Rural Equity Act (S. 1109. H.R. 2014).  We will keep you posted on our efforts and will be reaching out in the near future to AAA members for their assistance in contacting Members of Congress.

2006 Summer Healthcare Reimbursement Conference

July 11 - July 15, 2006

Join us in Indianapolis for the American Ambulance Association’s 2006 Summer Healthcare Reimbursement Conference.

Indianapolis will host the American Ambulance Association’s 2006 Summer Healthcare Reimbursement Conference.

You will get the most up-to-date information on Medicare reimbursement with Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to share their insight regarding industry issues and the most current Condition Codes changes.

David Werfel, Esq., AAA’s reimbursement legal expert, will share current hot topics for the ambulance industry and in two different panel discussions, ambulance industry experts will present their billing and collection “best practices” and how to avoid common problems in collections.
Former AAA President, Jerry Overton, will examine the IOM report and its impact on the EMS industry.

We invite you and your staff to join us in Indianapolis to participate in a dynamic educational experience by learning from the experts with proven track records of success. Through education, interaction and networking we are able to help you improve your company’s bottom line and optimize your service to your community.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND THIS CONFERENCE:
- AAA Members
- Members of AAA Committees
- Billing Personnel
- Carriers and Intermediaries
- Ambulance Industry Professionals

CMS Announces Details of Next Ambulance Open Door Forum

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) just announced that the next Ambulance Open Door Forum will be held on Wednesday, June 7 at 2:00 p.m. (eastern).  To participate on the Forum, dial 1-800-837-1935 and provide the operator with the conference ID number of 8267182 and your name, organization name and the state from which you are calling.  Below are more details on the Forum.

CMS Ambulance Open Door Forum

Date: Wednesday, June 7, 2006
Time: 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. (eastern)
Conference Call Number: 1-800-837-1935
Conference ID: 8267182
Conference Leaders: Dr. Bill Rogers/Dr. Charlotte Yeh

TTY Communications Relay Services are available for the hearing impaired.  For TTY services dial 7-1-1 or 1-800-855-2880 and for Internet Relay services click here http://www.consumer.att.com/relay/which/index.html.  A relay communications assistant will help.

ENCORE: Call Number 1-800-642-1687; Conference ID Number of 8267182
"Encore" is a recording of this call that can be accessed by dialing 1-800-642-1687 and entering the Conference ID number of 3102165.  You can access the recording of the call from 5:00 p.m. (eastern) on June 7 through 5:00 p.m. (eastern) on Monday, June 12, 2006

Electronic Remittance Advice
Forwarded from CMS

Are you receiving an Electronic Remittance Advice (ERA)?  Have you tried Medicare Remit Easy Print (MREP) software?

As of June 1, 2006, if you have been receiving both an Electronic Remittance Advice (ERA), either directly from your Medicare carrier/DMERC or indirectly from a clearinghouse, billing agent, or other entity representing you, and a Standard Paper Remittance (SPR) from your carrier/DMERC for 45 days or more, you will no longer be mailed an SPR by your carrier/DMERC, in accordance with Change Request (CR) 4376.  Check out Special Edition MLN Matters article SE0627 which outlines some of the options available to providers who will no longer receive the SPR directly from their carrier/DMERC.  The article is located at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/SE0627.pdf on the CMS website.

For more information about Medicare Remit Easy Print (MREP) software or about receiving a HIPAA-compliant ERA, please contact your Medicare carrier or DMERC, or go to their website.  Medicare Part B Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Helpline phone numbers are available at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ElectronicBillingEDITrans/Downloads/MedicarePartBEDIHelpline.pdf on the CMS website.

Member Question:

Thank you to everyone who answered last week's question about British Nationals.

This week's question: What issue(s) would you like to see covered more in depth in the Journal, or at conferences?

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Mark Your Calendar!

Industry Expert, Ron Thackery, American Medical Response will share with you the latest advances in EMS worker and vehicle safety. Effective strategies for negotiation insurance premiums and the management of safety in an EMS organization.

ASM 2006 Spring -> SOLD OUT!

ASM 2006 Summer -> SOLD OUT!

NOW ACCEPTING REGISTRATIONS FOR ASM IN 2007

Now accepting enrollment for the 2007 session of the Ambulance Service Manager (ASM) Program.  Reserve your place today!

2007 Ambulance Service Manager (ASM)
The ASM Program is sponsored by the American Ambulance Association (AAA) and is for aspiring, new, and experienced managers who wish to develop their leadership competencies and sharpen essential management skills.  The program provides a broad foundational curriculum matching cutting edge management theory with real-life practical applications.

The ASM Program is a certification course designed to immerse participants in an engaging learning cohort.  A small group of 40 participants moves together through two weeks of face-to-face instruction and experiential learning led by industry leading faculty bridged by several weeks of online discussion and group project work.

ASM Graduates will:

Dates for the 2007 program are:

• Online Session Begins: January 29, 2007
• On-site Week 1: February 25-March 2, 2007
• On-site Week 2: April 29 - May 4, 2007
  

Go to http://www.fitchassoc.com/Services/conferences.htm to download the brochure and registration materials. 

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