May. 24, 2017
HARRISBURG – Legislation to help to address the funding crisis facing emergency medical services organizations across Pennsylvania unanimously passed the House of Representatives today and heads to the state Senate for consideration, according to House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-Indiana).
House Bill 1013 would require insurance companies to reimburse ambulance companies for providing medical treatment, even when a patient is not transported to a hospital.
“Ambulance companies statewide are struggling to keep their doors open, including Citizens’ Ambulance Service of Indiana County, which has operated in the red for four straight years and has had to reduce hours and make staffing changes as a result,” Reed said. “Many of their emergency calls are for drug overdoses that are reversed at the scene with Narcan, or to assist a senior citizen who doesn’t need hospital care, but yet the ambulance company receives no reimbursement for the medical treatment administered. This should and will be corrected through our legislation.
“This legislation needs to be enacted as soon as possible to bring some financial relief to these organizations, which provide critical, life-saving services to our communities.”
Specifically, the bill would allow for reimbursement when transport does not take place as long as the following conditions are met: The Basic Life Support (BLS) or Advanced Life Support (ALS) unit must be dispatched by a county 911 center, and the EMS provider must have rendered care even though the transport was declined.
Representative Dave Reed
62nd District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Andy Briggs
717.260.6474
abriggs@pahousegop.com
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