Bill > HR2538

This bill requires the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to test a new Comprehensive Alternative Response for Emergencies (CARE) Model under Medicare, focusing on ground ambulance services. Specifically, the model would allow payment for emergency medical treatment services that include dispatching an ambulance but do not necessarily involve transporting the patient. Under this model, providers can be reimbursed for responding to emergency medical calls and providing treatment through methods like telehealth, even if no physical transport occurs. The payment rates would be aligned with what would have been paid if a transport had taken place. The model aims to provide more flexible emergency medical response options, particularly for Medicare beneficiaries. The bill mandates that CMMI implement this model within two years of enactment and requires the Comptroller General to submit a detailed report after four years analyzing the model's impact, including its effects on beneficiary outcomes, resource utilization, regional variations, and potential best practices. The report will also include recommendations for improving emergency medical services, with the ultimate goal of enhancing and potentially transforming how emergency medical services are delivered and reimbursed under Medicare.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2538/all-info