HARRISBURG — Working to address the challenges facing ambulance services in rural Pennsylvania and across the Commonwealth, the state House is advancing two measures that would boost funding for the organizations, said Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint.
“Our emergency medical services organizations are in a state of crisis,” Causer said. “If we don’t act now to ensure fair reimbursement for these services, the ambulance companies could be forced to close their doors. It’s frightening to think what could happen if you called 9-1-1 and no one was there to respond.”
Causer’s House Bill 699, which would increase the Medicaid reimbursement rate for emergency medical services, was approved unanimously by the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee on Tuesday.
The lawmaker noted Medicaid reimbursement rates have not been adjusted since 2004 and currently stand at $200 for Advanced Life Support (ALS) and $120 for Basic Life Support (BLS). The bill would increase the rates for ALS to not less than $300 and for BLS to not less than $180.
“The current rates are more than 200 percent below Medicare and commercial insurance reimbursements,” Causer said. “Even with the proposed increase, these rates would not cover the real cost of transporting Medicaid patients, but it would go a long way toward helping our struggling ambulance services.”
The bill is now headed to the full House for consideration.
Causer also noted the House is scheduled to take up a bill this week to require ambulance companies be reimbursed for providing medical treatment, even if a patient is not ultimately transferred to the hospital.
House Bill 1013 would allow for reimbursement when transport does not take place as long as the following conditions are met: The Basic Life Support (BLS) or Advanced Life Support (ALS) unit must be dispatched by a county 911 center, and the EMS provider must have rendered care even though the transport was declined.
“I’m pleased to see the House moving forward on efforts to ensure the future of these life-saving services,” Causer said.
