Earlier this year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the issuance of a blanket waiver that postpones the mandatory emergency medical services (EMS) survey by one year. CMS recognizes the hardship and resources that COVID-19 has demanded of providers, and this waiver hopes to alleviate some of the burden so that providers can keep their attention on serving their communities.
Click here to learn more about the MGADC waiver and other CMS announcements.
What does this mean for providers?
Providers of ground ambulance Medicare transports have additional time to prepare for reporting; the collection period will begin in 2021, either by calendar or fiscal year. Additionally, the list of Year 2 selected providers will be released as scheduled in December of 2020, and those organizations will collect data starting in 2021 as well.
What should providers be doing now?
Prepare. Prepare. Prepare. Now is the time to perform an internal audit or needs assessment of data collection processes. Providers should ensure they understand the criteria of the MGADC instrument and how to collect data within their organization. It should also be noted that some of the required data goes beyond a typical cost report. Public Consulting Group (PCG) can assist Year 1 Selected Providers with this process and help with these steps.
Where can I find more information?
PCG is committed to providing clarity and direction for its clients. As more information unfolds and questions are answered, PCG can provide up-to-date information and guidance on how to navigate through this time of uncertainty.
The best way to stay informed is by signing up for PCG’s quarterly EMS newsletter using the form below or by emailing emsstrategies@pcgus.com.
