Bill > S3145

This bill requires the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to test a new Comprehensive Alternative Response for Emergencies (CARE) Model under Medicare, which would allow ground ambulance providers to be paid for emergency medical services that involve responding to a medical call but do not necessarily require transporting the patient. Specifically, the model would enable ambulance providers to be reimbursed for dispatching a ground ambulance vehicle and providing medical treatment at the scene, in accordance with state and local protocols, without transporting the patient to a hospital. The payment rates would be similar to what would have been paid if a transport had occurred, and the model would also allow for telehealth services to be provided in conjunction with these on-scene treatments. After implementing the model, the Comptroller General will be required to submit a report to Congress within four years, analyzing Medicare beneficiaries' access to emergency medical services, comparing outcomes with traditional emergency transportation, assessing regional variations, identifying best practices and challenges, and providing recommendations for improving emergency medical services. The goal is to provide more flexible and potentially cost-effective emergency medical response options for Medicare beneficiaries.

Budget and Finance

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3145/all-info