The Department of Health and Human Services’ Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation today announced a new payment model for emergency ambulance services that aims to allow Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries to receive the most appropriate level of care at the right time and place with the potential for lower out-of-pocket costs. According to HHS, the Emergency Triage, Treat and Transport (ET3) model will make it possible for participating ambulance suppliers and providers to partner with qualified health care practitioners to deliver treatment in place (either on-the-scene or through telehealth) and with alternative destination sites (such as primary care doctors’ offices or urgent-care clinics) to provide care for Medicare beneficiaries following a medical emergency for which they have accessed 911 services. The model also will encourage development of medical triage lines for low-acuity 911 calls in regions where participating ambulance suppliers and providers operate. The model will have a five-year performance period, with an anticipated start date in early 2020. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services expects to release a request for applications from Medicare-enrolled ambulance suppliers and providers this summer, and a funding opportunity notice for the triage lines for low-acuity 911 calls this fall.

Related News Articles

Chairperson's File
Public
The recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act will bring big changes to health care. AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack joined me for a Leadership Dialogue…
Headline
The House Ways and Means Subcommittees on Health and Oversight held a joint hearing today to discuss lessons learned, challenges and opportunities to improve…
Headline
The AHA today expressed support for the Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, a bill that would eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient…
Headline
The AHA July 8 wrote in opposition to the “Patient Access to Higher Quality Health Care Act” (H.R. 4002), which would repeal current law banning the creation…
Headline
The AHA July 3 released the Health Care Plan Accountability Update for the second quarter of 2025. The update covers the latest developments in Medicare…
Headline
The Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services today announced the creation of the DOJ-HHS False Claims Act Working Group to combat health care fraud…