DeLauro, Platts Introduce Legislation to Ensure Medicare Covers All Emergency Responder Costs

Washington, D.C. – Representatives Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3) and Todd Platts (PA-19) introduced the Medicare Paramedic Intercept Services Coverage Act, to change the law to allow paramedic intercept services to apply for direct reimbursement from Medicare. 

Currently, most volunteer ambulance services are only qualified to provide basic medical services and transport and in some cases a patient may require the services of a paramedic, an individual trained in advanced life support services.  The paramedic either meets the volunteer ambulance en route or at the scene of the call and provides what is termed paramedic intercept services.  However, in this situation, Medicare does not pay separately for paramedics as a secondary responder.   

“Particularly with our economy, when our senior citizens are sick or injured, they should not have to worry whether or not Medicare will pay the costs associated with the emergency responders dispatched by a third party.  With the Medicare Paramedic Intercept Services Coverage Act, we will ensure that our seniors are not left with enormous medical bills they cannot afford,” said DeLauro 

“Despite the 911 operator’s determination that a paramedic dispatch is medically necessary for the safety of the patient, Medicare does not cover these charges,” said Congressman Platts.  “This legislation would allow the paramedic intercept services to receive reimbursement from Medicare for the vital services they provide and would assist our Nation’s seniors with the significant costs associated with Advanced Life Support services.”

The legislation enjoys the support of the Association of Connecticut Ambulance Providers and the American Ambulance Association (AAA).  In its letter of support for the legislation, Jim McPartlon, president of AAA said, “The Medicare Paramedic Intercept Services Coverage Act of 2008 will help ensure that those communities which are served by public, volunteer or non-profit ambulance service providers with only basic life support (BLS) capability also have access to critical advanced life support (ALS) services.

Specifically, the Medicare Paramedic Intercept Services Coverage Act will:

·     Clarify that intercept services consist of a qualified paramedic providing Advanced Life Support (ALS) services in connection with and during ambulance transportation by an entity that is qualified to provide only Basic Life Support (BLS) services.

·     Require both entities be qualified under Medicare to provide their respective services and that there be no relationship between the entity providing the ALS service and the entity providing the transportation.

·     Allow a paramedic intercept service to bill Medicare directly if the transportation services are provided by a community sponsored, non-profit ambulance organization.