Category: Featured
The End of the PHE and the Impact on Vaccine & COVID-19 Testing Costs
Originally Posted on PCG’s Health Policy News on March 30, 2023. Author: Rhea Lieber On January 31, 2020, Secretary Alex Azar of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) declared a nationwide Public Health Emergency (PHE) related to the COVID-19 pandemic. For the past three years the PHE …
New Federal Proposed Telehealth Rules will Affect Access to Medication for Opioid Use Disorder
Originally Posted on PCG’s Health Policy News on March 30, 2023. Author: Eliza Mette In a continuation of our series examining the end of the COVID-19 federal Public Health Emergency (PHE), we do a deeper dive into federal telehealth flexibilities and policies that will expire. Among those flexibilities is a …
Scholarship Opportunities – Applications Due May 1st
Author: Kyrstyn Paulat Do you want to progress in your career through continuing your education? Are you looking to waive membership fees for a national association? Are you looking for a tuition waiver for emergency medical services (EMS) specific leadership training? Now’s the time! The Fitch EMS Foundation Scholarships are …
National Public Health Week – PCG Thanks All Fire & EMS Agencies!
Author: Michelle Silvestre Public Consulting Group (PCG) celebrates and promotes National Public Health Week (April 3-9). We thank Fire & Emergency Medical Service (EMS) agencies who play an enormous role in public health efforts. From standing in the front lines of a public health crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, …
The Medicare Ambulance Fee Schedule Increased, But Will It Help?
Author: Kyrstyn Paulat On October 14, 2022, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued Transmittal 11642 (Change Request 12948), which announced the Medicare Ambulance Inflation Factor (AIF) for the calendar year 2023. The AIF is calculated by measuring the increase in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers …
How Pairing Paramedics and EMTs with Police Can Combat Rising Mental Health Crises in Communities
Author: Zachary Anta There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic is the largest global health crisis we have faced in generations. The pandemic caused major implications and uncertainty on all facets of life, health, and the economy. Social isolation, inflation, and financial pressures coupled with many more crippling impacts …
Explaining the Asterisk Behind Your 2020* Data
Author: Tim Nowak 2020* will forever have an asterisk behind it in terms of data management – including call volume trending, operations-finance relationships, overtime expenditures, sick time usage, disposable supply increases, (lack of) revenue generation, and just about EVERYTHING fire & EMS related. As fire & EMS chiefs, we …
Thank you, Fire and EMS Leaders!
We appreciate all of the ways you make a difference! Living this year’s National EMS Week theme through your work every day, thank you for always “Rising to the Challenge.” With over 70 years of combined Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) field experience, our team at Public Consulting Group …
What being “essential” means
Author: Tim Nowak Being essential is not a golden ticket. It’s also not a silver bullet. At best, it’s an unfunded mandate, but that’s the start that many EMS agencies need in order to begin getting the recognition and funding they deserve. Being classified as an “essential service” through …
Grant Opportunities
PCG understands that departments are in need of additional funding to support operations. We have also bared witness to the hundreds of thousands of dollars that go unclaimed each year in grant opportunities. What is the disconnect? What are the hardships in applying for grants? That is what PCG would …