By FireRescue1 Staff
WASHINGTON, DC — The International Association of Fire Chiefs released a statement Thursday applauding a new Medicare reimbursement policy that will reimburse fire departments for the cost of providing Medicare beneficiaries with treatment-without-transportation and transporting patients to alternative destinations.
In it’s statement, IAFC officials noted that fire departments often struggle with “outdated federal reimbursement policies which fail to reimburse fire departments for the cost of providing EMS treatement without transportation and prohibit transporting patients to alternative destinations.”
Under the new Emergency Triage, Treat and Transport (ET3) Model, fire departments will soon be able to apply to be included in the model policy. Participation does mean contacting a nurse practioner, physician assistant, physician or advanced care provider to approve treatment-without-transport.
“The IAFC is pleased to have worked with Dr. David Prezant, Chief Medical Officer for the Fire Department of New York, as well as the International Association of Fire Fighters and members of the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association in developing and advocating for this proposed model policy. Make sure to keep watching for additional details on this proposed model from CMMI.”