July 26, 2006
E-Update
Table
of Contents
Comment Letter on Proposed Rule
Ambulance Cost Study
Reminder: Nine-Day Medicare Payment Hold in September
August Audioconference -- Register TODAY!
2006 Medicare Reference Manual Updates Available
Save the Date: AAA Annual Meeting and Convention in Orlando
“Secrets of Successful EMS Leaders” by Mike Taigman and Stephen Dean Now Available on AAA-Link
ASM 2007 Session
Comment Letter on Proposed Rule
For those of you who submitted letters to the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services (CMS) on the recent Medicare ambulance proposed rule, thank you for your time in effort on this important matter. We estimate that CMS received a couple hundred letters total from ambulance service providers, state ambulance associations and other parties affected by the proposed rule. We anticipate that CMS will issue the final rule in November and in the meantime will keep you posted on any new developments.
If you have received a letter from Quantria Strategies asking you to complete a cost study, please submit a completed survey today.
Quantria Strategies has sent letters to 1,000 ambulance service providers asking that they participate in an ambulance cost study. The providers were randomly selected and represent a cross section of all provider types, service area populations and regions of the country. The AAA hired Quantria Strategies to conduct the study so that the ambulance industry will have a basis by which to compare the results of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) study on the costs of ambulance services now expected to be released this fall.
If you receive a letter, please follow the instructions and participate in the survey. It is critical that we have a large response rate. If you receive a letter and have any questions, please contact John O'Hare of Quantria Strategies at jfo@quantria.com or Judy Xanthopoulos at jax@quantria.com.
Reminder: Nine-Day Medicare Payment Hold in September
Forwarded from CMS
This message is a reminder for all physicians, providers, and other health care professionals who bill Medicare contractors for their services.
A brief hold will be placed on Medicare payments for all claims during the last 9 days of the Federal fiscal year (September 22 through September 30, 2006). These payment delays are mandated by section 5203 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. No interest will be accrued and no late penalties will be paid to an entity or individual by reason of this one-time hold on payments. All claims held during this time will be paid on October 2, 2006.
This policy only applies to claims subject to payment. It does not apply to full denials, no-pay claims, and other non-claim payments such as periodic interim payments, home health requests for anticipated payments, and cost report settlements.
Please note that payments will not be staggered and no advance payments will be allowed during this 9-day hold. For more information, please view the MLN Matters Article at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM5047.pdf.
AMERICAN AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION
presents
The Occupational and Vehicle Safety AudioConference
Wednesday, August 9, 2006 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (E.T.)
PRESENTERS:
Howard Handler, Senior Vice President at THOMCO/The American Agency Division, and Ron Thackery, VP Professional Services at American Medical Response
Learn the latest advances in EMS worker and vehicle safety. Effective strategies for negotiation insurance premiums and the management of safety in an EMS organization
To sign up for this audio conference and others please click on the attached brochure.
ATTENTION:
$89 for all AAA Members
BUY A 2006 MEDICARE REFERENCE MANUAL UPDATE NOW
SAVE THE DATE !
AAA Annual Meeting & Convention in Orlando, Florida
October 2-6, 2006
WHO SHOULD ATTEND THIS CONFERENCE:
- AAA Members
- Members of AAA Committees
- Owner/CEO/President
- Executive Directors and Vice Presidents
- Managers and Supervisors
- Ambulance Industry Professionals
Secrets of Successful EMS Leaders
“What's Important to You?”
Presented By Mike Taigman and Stephen Dean
June 2006 lesson now available FREE on the AAA-LINK
The popular audio tape series “Secrets of Successful EMS Leaders” by Mike Taigman and Stephen Dean is being posted as a monthly series FREE of charge as a member benefit on the AAA-LINK. Each month a new module will be posted. Listen to the series online or download to your MP3 Player. The series is also being distributed to all AAA member companies who have set up private LINK systems with EMSED.COM. You can access the AAA-LINK at: http://key.emsed.com . A userid and password are required. For more information or to sign up for a FREE userid and password call EMSED.COM at 877-435-9309.
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:
- Develop 41 competencies essential to contemporary leaders managing sustainable EMS Organizations.
- Build problem solving skills through real life case studies, group work, and an industry specific team research project.
- Appreciate principles of system design, operational efficiency, and performance management.
- Demystify the complexities of finance, budgeting, and the ever evolving reimbursement landscape.
- Learn cutting edge practices and theories including appreciative inquiry, emotional intelligence, and other human relations innovations.
- Engage industry leaders as they present current trends in EMS including system design, technology, best practices, and what the future holds.
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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