Savvik Cost Collection Grant Application

The Savvik Foundation and the American Ambulance Association have launched a grant program available to Savvik member ambulance services who are classified as rural or super-rural and who are preparing to comply with the Cost Data Collection program through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Through Savvik Member purchases under contracts, the Savvik...

CMS Posts 2020 Public Use File

On December 2, 2019, CMS posted the 2020 Ambulance Fee Schedule Public Use Files. These files contain the amounts that will be allowed by Medicare in calendar year 2020 for the various levels of ambulance service and mileage. These allowables reflect a 0.9% inflation adjustment over the 2018 rates. The 2020 Ambulance Fee Schedule Public...

Cost Data Collection: So You’ve Been Selected—Now What?

It’s finally here! For almost a decade the American Ambulance Association has been preparing for this moment: collecting cost data in order to justify the reimbursement inadequacies of our current payment system. As Benjamin Franklin stated, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” So prepare we did! Our research indicated that due to...

2020 Stars of Life Nominations Are Open!

#StarsofLife | www.stars.ambulance.org | May 4-6, 2020 | Intercontinental Wharf | Washington, DC The American Ambulance Association’s Stars of Life program celebrates the contributions of ambulance professionals who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in service to their communities or the #mobilehealthcare profession. Nominate YOUR rockstars at www.stars.ambulance.org by March 1, 2020!

Nominate Your Rising Leaders! 40 Under 40 Due Jan 31

The American Ambulance Association is seeking nominations for its inaugural Mobile Healthcare 40 Under 40! This is your opportunity to recognize exceptional rising leaders as the future of EMS. Nomination Instructions To submit a nomination, please complete the form below. Nominations are due January 31, 2020. Incomplete nominations cannot be considered. Timeline Nominations are due January 31, 2020. Incomplete...

Speak at Annual 2020!

AAA 2020 Session Proposals due January 31, 2020 AAA Annual Conference & Trade Show November 2–4, 2020 MGM Grand | Las Vegas, Nevada The American Ambulance Association Annual Conference & Trade Show brings together mobile healthcare leaders from across the country to learn, network, and plan for the future of our industry. AAA Annual is committed to empowering our participants...

January Law Changes– OR, NJ, NY, NV

Oregon Pregnancy Accommodations Law   Following many other states, the new law prohibits employers from deny employment opportunities to applicants or employees who need reasonable accommodations due to or related to their pregnancy or childbirth.  New Jersey Pay Inquiry Restrictions   This law prohibits screening candidates based upon an applicant’s prior wage history. It is also illegal to establish...

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Overtime Update

The U.S. DOL issued the final rule that will update the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) beginning on January 1, 2020. Under the final rule, nearly 1.3 million workers who were previously exempt from overtime pay will now be eligible. These changes, which were initially proposed by the Obama Administration in 2015, were updated...

Proposed Rule Impacts Employer Sponsored Health Plans

A proposed rule published on November 27th by the IRS, U.S. DOL, and HHS would place new requirements on group health plans and health insurance providers. The rule would require providers to disclose cost-sharing information to participants, beneficiaries, and other covered individuals which would outline their liability to pay certain cost-sharing amounts and out-of-pocket expenses. This rule...

CMS Cost Collection Call - December 5th

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has scheduled a call for Thursday, December 5 from 1:30-3:00 PM Eastern to review the new Ambulance Cost Data Collection System. If you plan to attend, register here. CMS Ambulance Cost Data Collection December 5 | 1:30 PM ET

2018 National and State-Specific Medicare Data

The American Ambulance Association is pleased to announce the publication of its 2018 Medicare Payment Data Report. This report is based on the “Early Edition” of the 2018 Part B National Summary Data File (previously known as the Bess Report). The report consists of an overview of total Medicare spending nationwide, and then a...

Summary of Final Rule on Ambulance Data Cost Collection

Summary of Final Rule on Ambulance Data Cost Collection The American Ambulance Association (AAA) has completed its review and summary of the Final Rule on the Establishment of an Ambulance Data Collection System drafted by Kathy Lester, Esq. To access the summary of the Final Rule, please click here. The Final Rule is scheduled to be published in...

2019 AAA Board of Directors Election Results

The winners of the 2019 AAA Board of Directors election are listed below. Please join us in thanking all candidates for their service to the American Ambulance Association. Director (2021) Jim Finger Chief Executive Officer/ Administrator Regional Ambulance Service Rutland, VT   Alternate Director Reginald Allen Chief Executive Officer CHS Mobile Integrated Health Care Rochester, NY   Director (2021) Josef Penner Executive Director Mecklenburg EMS Agency...

CMS Posts Final Ambulance Data Collection Instrument

CMS Posts Final Ambulance Data Collection Instrument The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has posted the final version of the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection Instrument. The Instrument is the guidance and mechanism by which CMS will request data from those ambulance service suppliers and providers selected in year one of the sampling. The...

CMS Releases List of Ambulance Organizations Selected for Data Collection

CMS Releases List of Ambulance Organizations Selected for Data Collection The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the list of ambulance service providers and suppliers selected to provide data in the first year of data collection. CMS has published the data by National Provider Identifier (NPI) number and the AAA has also...