On April 2, 2009 U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (CT) introduced H.R. 1915 titled the “Medicare Paramedic Intercept Services Coverage Act of 2009.” If enacted, the legislation would amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for expanded coverage of paramedic intercept services under the Medicare Program.
H.R. 1915 calls for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop regulations that would enable ALS intercept services that provide paramedic-level service in connection with the transport of a patient by an ambulance service qualified to provide only basic life support services to receive payment for the clinical care rendered during the transport. The entity providing ALS intercept services could not be employed or compensated by the BLS ambulance service providing patient transportation, and must be either requested by the BLS ambulance service or dispatched in a “tiered response” configuration. Under the current version of the bill, a paramedic would be required to provide an ALS assessment or ALS intervention to the patient during transport. The legislation specifically excludes the ALS intercept services payments from being included in the computation of the ambulance fee schedules.
The International Association of EMS Chiefs supports the enactment of H.R. 1915. The IAEMSC views this legislation as a step in recognition of the clinical care provided by EMS systems and supports EMS as a critical infrastructure to the local community public safety and health. Further, the support of paramedic intercept services is essential to supporting and maintaining EMS systems that operate tiered response operations.
The IAEMSC strongly recommends the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Ways and Means move forward with this bill and remains ready to assist as requested.
Contact: Info@IAEMSC.org or 1-877-442-3672
