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Community paramedicine agreement approved for 11 Nev. EMS agencies

The bill makes the agencies eligible for Medicaid reimbursements

CARSON CITY, Nev. — On Friday, June 10, the Nevada State Board of Health approved the community paramedicine agreements for 11 permitted EMS agencies.

This action will allow these entities to provide community paramedicine services. The agencies who have their Community Paramedicine Compliance Agreements approved by the BOH on June 10 will be eligible for Medicaid reimbursement July 1.

Assembly Bill 305 was passed in the 2015 legislative session and community paramedicine was added to Nevada Revised Statutes 450B. “Community paramedicine services” is now defined as services provided by an EMT, an AEMT or paramedic to patients who do not require emergency medical transportation and provided in a manner that is integrated with the health care and social services resources available in the community.

The scope may include, but is not limited to, episodic assessment, care, intervention, care based on care plans developed by practitioners and/or physicians, helping a recently discharged hospital patient reestablish themselves at home and medical reconciliation.

The 11 permitted agencies are Carson City Fire Department, Reno Fire Department, Life Guard International/Flying ICU, American Medical Response, North Lyon County Fire Protection District, REMSA, North Lake Tahoe Fire Department, East Fork Fire Protection District, Humboldt General Hospital, Storey County Fire Department and Central Lyon Fire Protection District.

“I want to thank the board for approving this item,” Cody Phinney, Administrator for the Division of Public and Behavioral Health said. “This is one step in improving access to health care across the state. We are hopeful that other EMS entities will be added to the list. Nevada will be on the of the first states to have Medicaid reimbursed services.”