Reimbursement in emergency medical services: how to adapt in a changing environment

The proposed Medicare fee schedule for medically necessary ambulance transportation will have a profound impact on emergency medical services (EMS) systems throughout the country. When the new Medicare rules are implemented, reimbursement for Medicare patients will be largely based on national relative value units that vary depending on the level of service provided, from basic life support to advanced life support emergency. Under the new fee schedule, nearly all EMS systems will lose money when compared with the actual cost of providing the service, particularly advanced life support services, rural services, efficient systems, and those that bill for services. To adapt to these impending changes, EMS administrators and medical directors must work together to diversify and solidify their revenue sources and to seek out ways to make their systems even more efficient while maintaining a high quality of clinical care.