| February 9, 2010
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News about Patriot "People" |
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New Training Program - Sunday, May 04, 2008
Patriot EMS will roll out a new Computer Aided training program this week that will combine computer, classroom and practical skills review learning activities coupled with Medical Director Quality Assurance review. This new program will keep Patriot EMS first in our region in level of training continuing a tradition of excellence in education.
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Job Posting - Thursday, April 10, 2008
Patriot EMS is seeking a Full-Time Paramedic and a Squad Training Officer. Interested individuals can click on the "Come Work With Us" tab and apply online.
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New Station - Thursday, April 10, 2008
Patriot EMS will be moving over the next week into its new 5000 square feet headquarters building. The renovations are complete, providing an excellent base of operations for service to the community. An open house is scheduled for EMS week in May and the public is invited to visit.
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New EMT - Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Congratulations to Bobbi Manns on successfully completing her EMT Certification process. Bobbi was awarded an Ohio EMT Certification today. Your friends at Patriot EMS are proud of your accomplishment.
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Arrival - Tuesday, April 08, 2008
The EMS Stork has delivered a brand new 2008 Ambulance to Patriot EMS. The new ambulance is expected to be licensed and in service to the community in the coming week.
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Patriot EMS Purchases New Ambulances - Thursday, February 28, 2008
We are pleased to announce the purchase of two new 2008 ambulance chassis, the first of which will be delivered April 1 and the second May 1, 2008. These new vehicles, coupled with a recent purchase of a new Wheel Chair Van, on a 2008 Dodge Sprinter chassis, will make our fleet the newest and most reliable in the area. Patriot EMS has always stressed the importance of reliable transportation of its patients. When seconds count, or when you travel far, reliability is always a priority.
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CEVO 3 |
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Patriot EMS is proud to introduce 2 new ambulances into our fleet. These new ambulances are equipped with a full GPS system, Panasonic Toughbooks, and Internet connectivity.
The GPS system gives us better locational awareness and real-time tracking. It can also give our drivers turn-by-turn directions to anywhere in the country.
We are also pleased to announce that Patriot EMS has partnered with Panasonic and Zoll Data Systems to provide a state-of-the-art electronic Patient Care Reporting (or ePCR) system. Having this system in our fleet means to instantly input and retrieve patient care information. By having the Toughbooks constantly online with a secure Internet connection, hospitals are able to receive pertinent patient information before we arrive on scene.
 
 
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Ambulance Service Manager |
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Patriot Emergency Medical Service has an ongoing commitment to provide quality service to its customers. Recently, two members of our management team traveled to Kansas City to attend the spring session of the Ambulance Service Manager's program; two more members are enrolled for the summer session. Patriot EMS takes great pride in being ahead of the curve in experience and training among local ambulance providers, both public and private. Congratulations to David Rotter, Chief Operations Officer and Brandon Broughton, Liaison Officer & Customer Care Technician!
Certificate Program
Online Session Begins: May 19, 2008
On-site Dates: June 15-20, 2008 & August 10-15, 2008
Sponsored by: Fitch & Associates and The Management Training Institute of The American Ambulance Association
For aspiring, new and experienced managers who wish
to develop their leadership competencies and sharpen essential
management skills, the Ambulance Service Manager program provides a
broad foundational curriculum that matches cutting edge management
theory with real-life practical applications. The core faculty includes
experts in the art and science of EMS management, as well as
distinguished guest faculty representing current leaders in emergency
medical services management. The American Ambulance Association, the
leading ambulance service advocacy organization across the United
States, sponsors this program.
The Ambulance Service Manager program is a
certification course designed to immerse participants in an engaging
learning environment. 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. Along the way, lifelong
relationships are formed and a professional network is established.
Kansas City has proven to be convenient and cost effective for
organizations across North America and beyond.
Core faculty for this program include: Jay Fitch,
PhD, Richard A. Keller, BS, Christine Zalar, MA, David M Williams, MS,
and David E. Nelson, DMin. Additional distinguished faculty are invited
based on current trends and needs of the program.
Registration Information: Program tuition is
$2,495. Tuition includes the live and online faculty sessions,
materials, a work styleprofile, 360 survey, and a copy of Prehospital Care Administration. Each class begins at 8:00 am on Sunday and concludes at 4:00 pm on Friday. Click here to download the ASM Summer 2008 Registration form.
Questions? Contact Sharon Conroy with Fitch & Associates at 816-431-2600 or sconroy@emprize.net.
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Page, Wolfberg & Wirth News |
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HHS Issues Interim Final Breach Notification Regulations
On Aug. 19, 2009, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released an advance copy of the interim final regulations entitled “Breach Notification for Unsecured Protected Health Information.” The new regulations require HIPAA covered entities, such as ambulance service providers, to notify individuals when their unsecured health information has been breached.
OIG Approves Hospital Subsidy to Ambulance Cooperative for the Provision of ALS Services
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) posted Advisory Opinion 09-13, where the OIG approved a subsidy arrangement between a Hospital and an Ambulance Cooperative. Under the arrangement, the Ambulance Cooperative would assume responsibility for providing ALS services currently provided by the Hospital, and the Hospital would provide a subsidy to the Cooperative (in the form of cash, equipment, and services) to be used exclusively to subsidize the provision of the ALS services. The OIG stated that, given the unique circumstances that were present, the arrangement posed a low risk of abuse under the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) and it would not impose sanctions for the arrangement. However, this was a highly fact specific, unique, and confusing situation. As with all other Advisory Opinions, it is only binding on the requesting party.
Red Flag Rules Enforcement Delayed Until November 1, 2009
The FTC has issued another last-minute delay in enforcing the Red Flag Rules until November 1, 2009. This 3-month delay gives ambulance services a short reprieve to implement their Identity Theft Prevention Programs as required by these federal regulations. Click on the article title above to go to PWW's Red Flag Resource Page to read more - and to order PWW's comprehensive Red Flag Rules Survival Kit to bring your ambulance service into compliance in time for this looming deadline.
OIG Issues New Advisory Opinion on Reciprocal Copayment Waivers by "Backup" Ambulance Providers
ON April 30, 2009, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued Advisory Opinion 09-03, in which, for the first time, the OIG approved the waiver of Medicare copayments and deductibles by municipal ambulance services who provide occasional backup services to each others' residents. While prior OIG opinions have long permitted municipal ambulance services to treat taxes as resident copayments, this is the first time the OIG has approved the practice in the context of reciprocal waivers by neighboring providers that furnish occasional "backup" ambulance services to one another. Click the article title above to go to PWW's Compliance Resource Page and download Advisory Opinion 09-03.
Stimulus Bill To Amend HIPAA Regulations
This week, President Obama is expected to sign into law the $787 billion stimulus bill. Included in the bill are strong new privacy and security measures that will generate significant changes to the current HIPAA regulations. These changes not only affect covered entities under HIPAA, but they directly affect many organizations that perform services on their behalf. The bill makes business associates directly subject many requirements under HIPAA and contains provisions that would make patient notification mandatory in the event of an unauthorized disclosure of unsecured protected health information. It also places new restrictions on certain disclosures, increases penalties for violations of the Privacy and Security Rules, and requires more accounting of disclosures from electronic health records. Click on the link above to find out how this will affect your organization.
CMS Issues Final Rule: State Flexibility for Medicaid Benefit Packages
CMS published the “State Flexibility for Medicaid Benefit Packages” Final Rule (73 FR 73694 – 73727) implementing a provision of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (“DRA”). A copy of the rule, with relevant portions bookmarked and highlighted, is available by clicking on the article title above. While many of our comments to the Proposed Rule received honorable mention, CMS decided to implement the Proposed Rule without modification, effective February 2, 2009.
CMS Issues Advance Copy of Final Signature Rule
On October 31, 2008, Medicare released an unofficial advance copy of the Final Rule that contains more changes to the beneficiary signature requirements contained in 42 CFR §424.36. The "official" version of this rule is expected to be published in the Federal Register on November 19, 2008, with an effective date of January 1, 2009.
Red Flag Rules
The FTC and other federal bank regulatory agencies have issued joint regulations collectively referred to as the “Red Flag Rules”. The Red Flag Rules require financial institutions and creditors to develop and implement a written Identity Theft Prevention Program to detect, prevent, and mitigate identity theft in connection with new and existing accounts. Click on the link above to find out how this will affect your ambulance service.
CMS Proposes New Modifications to Signature Rule
For the second time in a little over 6 months, Medicare is proposing further modifications to the beneficiary signature regulations that went into effect on January 1, 2008. These proposed modifications would - once again - change ambulance service practices and documentation requirements for submitting ambulance claims. Click the link above for PWW's analysis of these proposed rules, and to learn more about PWW's "Special Alert" webinar to explain exactly what you need to do next.
CMS Issues New, Mandatory ABN Form
Medicare has released a mandatory, new ABN form effective March 3, 2008. Ambulance services must use this form in certain situations to inform Medicare beneficiaries that certain ambulance services are non-covered. Failure to do so in certain cases means that the ambulance service would be unable to bill the patient following a denial by Medicare.
PWW Sample Signature Forms Available
As a public service to EMS and the ambulance industry, PWW is pleased to make free sample Patient Signature Forms available for download. Click the above link to go directly to the download page.
Medicare Publishes Final Rule on Patient Signatures - Becomes Effective January 1, 2008
CMS has published a Final Rule significantly changing Medicare signature requirements for filing ambulance claims in instances where the patient is unable to sign an Assignment of Benefits form. The new rules go into effect on January 1, 2008. Though the regulation is a Final Rule, CMS is accepting comments until December 31, 2007. Click on the above link to download a copy of these new regulations, and to review a brief PWW summary of these new requirements, which will be particularly burdensome to 911, emergency ambulance services and billers.
CMS Releases Proposed Patient Signature Rule for Ambulance Services
Medicare has released a Proposed Rule in the Federal Register modifying the patient signature requirements for submitting ambulance claims in cases where the patient is unable to sign, and no other authorized signers are available or willing to sign on the patient's behalf. Click the above link to go directly to PWW's summary of this Proposed Rule, to download the proposal, and to learn how to submit comments to CMS about the Proposed Rule.
Model Policy on Use of Cell Phones, PDAs and Imaging Devices
Click the bove link to visit our Sample Forms and Policies page, and download this helpful new model policy, designed to help you get a handle on the use of cell phones and other portable electronic "gadgets" by EMS personnel while on duty.
GAO Releases Long Awaited Ambulance Cost Study
The General Accountability Office (GAO) has released a long-awaited report on the costs of providing ambulance services. The report, entitled Ambulance Providers: Costs and Expected Medicare Margins Vary Greatly, is widely viewed as the first step toward achieving equitable reimbursement levels from federal payors, including Medicare. Click above to read more.
CMS Proposes New ABN Form
CMS is proposing a new Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN) form. The ABN is a mandatory form that must be used in certain situations to inform a Medicare beneficiary - prior to performing the services - that those services are likley to be non-covered by Medicare. If the form is required, but not used, the provider is not allowed to then bill the patient directly for those non-covered services. CMS is accepting comments on the new ABN form for a limited 30-day period. To review the Federal Register notice, the new ABN form, and related documents, click on the above link.
Medicare Schedules "Town Hall" Provider Meeting
CMS has announced a "Town Hall" meeting open to all Medicare providers and suppliers on September 20, 2006. This Federal Register notice contains information on how to participate in this event, either in person in Baltimore or by telephone. This is an opportunity for ambulance services to express their views directly to CMS on important reimbursement issues.
Medicare Releases Advance Copy of Ambulance Final Rule
On November 1, 2006 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released an advance copy of a Final Rule it intends to publish in the Federal Register on December 1, 2006. CMS is withdrawing its controversial proposed changes to the "Specialty Care Transport" and "Emergency Response" definitions, and is adopting new "rural" classifications. Also, the 2007 inflation factor will be 4.3%.
Recent Court Case Illustrates Importance of Following Patient Refusal Guidelines
A recent federal court case illustrates the importance of having - and following - patient refusal guidelines in your EMS organization.
Department of Labor Clarifies "Volunteer" Issues
The U.S. Department of Labor recently released an important opinion letter clarifying the amounts of "nominal fees, expenses or reasonable benefits" that may be paid to a "volunteer" without converting that person to an "employee" under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
CMS Issues EMTALA "Patient Parking" Memo
The Federal government has recently released a nationwide memo informing hospitals that the practice of "patient parking" - refusing to "accept responsibility" for a patient arriving by ambulance and making the EMS crew wait with the patient - constitutes a violation of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act.
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Just a Little Daily Humor... |
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