NAEMT is pleased to announce the introduction of the Emergency Medical Services Reimbursement for On-scene Care and Support (EMS ROCS) Act. This bill would amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide Medicare coverage of ambulance services that do not include transportation. We thank Sen. Welch (D-VT) and Sen. Sanders (I-VT) for introducing this bill in the Senate and Rep. Balint (VT-AL) for the companion legislation introduced in the House. NAEMT will work with leaders in Congress and national EMS and fire organizations to advance this legislation toward passage.
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“We are extremely thankful that U.S. Senator Welch (VT) has introduced the Emergency Medical Services Reimbursement for On-Scene and Support (EMS ROCS) Act. This Bill facilitates reimbursement for ambulance agencies for Treatment in Place (TIP), irrespective of whether the patient is transported to an emergency department. Reimbursement for the care we provide, as opposed to the transport we supply, has been a goal of the EMS profession for decades. This bill would allow local communities, EMS leaders and Medical Directors to develop and implement patient-centric clinical care protocols that facilitate patients receiving the right care, in the right setting, at the right time, without being financially penalized for doing so. NAEMT is very thankful for the collaborative efforts of the American Ambulance Association, the International Association of Fire Fighters, and the International Association of Fire Chiefs that have help get this bill introduced.”
— Matt Zavadsky, NAEMT Director and Chair of the NAEMT EMS Economics Committee