EMS Advisory Group Presented with Ways to get Medicaid Dollars

(TNS) - A new source of reimbursement for ambulance providers in the state could provide Skagit County providers with millions of dollars, but would require restructuring the county’s current ambulance system.

Ground Emergency Medical Transport legislation, which was recently signed into law, provides certain ambulance providers with a partial reimbursement for care given to Medicaid patients, according to Scott Clough of AP Triton, a consultant who worked on the legislation.

However, as ambulance service in the county is now structured, the Central Valley Ambulance Authority and Aero Skagit probably would not qualify for reimbursement under the law, Clough said at Monday’s EMS advisory group meeting. CVAA handles about 80 percent of the county’s patient transports.

“The smell test is ... they have to have taxing authority,” Clough said.

The Anacortes Fire Department, which provides ambulances on and around Fidalgo Island, would qualify for reimbursement.

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