Senate Bill 682, Medical Assistance Program and Health Insurance – Emergency Medical Service Providers – Coverage and Reimbursement of Services”, requires the Maryland Department of Health or an insurance carrier to reimburse EMS providers who deliver mobile health services and non-emergency transports. This could reduce the number of non-emergency 911 transports and allow EMS providers to recoup costs for every 911 call they respond to. They currently do not receive any reimbursement for calls in which a transport is not made and the EMS provider delivers care on site.

MACo Legislative Director Natasha Mehu testified in support of SB 682 before the Senate Finance Committee on March 1, 2018.

From MACo Testimony:

Generally, EMS providers are only reimbursed for the transport of individuals to hospitals. They are not reimbursed for situations in which they provide care on site but the patient refuses or does not need transport to a hospital. EMS providers must respond to 911 calls and they incur costs for every dispatch. Consequently, because of the current reimbursement system, they respond to thousands of calls each year in which they are unable to recoup the costs of the services they provide. Requiring reimbursements for care provided without transport would help ensure EMS providers are fairly compensated for the services they provide.

Counties believe SB 682 helps meet important health care needs of residents in their
communities and provides a means for EMS providers to deliver that care in a cost-effective and efficient manner.”

For more on this and other legislation, follow MACo’s advocacy efforts during the 2018 legislative session here.