Oct. 25, 2018
HARRISBURG – Representing a true win for Pennsylvanians, legislation drafted by Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware) that would require ambulance companies to be reimbursed for providing medical treatment, even if the patient is not transported to a hospital, was signed into law.
Previously, EMS agencies were only reimbursed for their costs to render emergency care if the patient was transported to the hospital. The many situations that arise that don’t require hospital care because the patient was stabilized onsite contributed to EMS agencies being prevented from receiving reimbursement.
“Without fairly reimbursing the EMS agencies that provide such critical care during our time of need, we would have eventually faced the unattractive alternative of agencies being forced to consolidate with other agencies, resulting in longer waits at times when prompt care could save lives,” Barrar explained.
House Bill 1013, now
Act 103 of 2018, requires health insurance companies, including Medicaid, to reimburse an ambulance company when transport to a hospital isn’t necessary or is refused by the patient, even though the EMS provider rendered medically necessary emergency services.
Another bill to help ambulance associations, as well as fire companies, was also signed into law.
House Bill 26, now
Act 91 of 2018, closes a loophole that PennDOT has been using to deny free emergency vehicle license plates to volunteer companies that also have paid employees.
“Now, these volunteer first responders don’t have to worry about fighting with PennDOT to get the free plates they deserve. I thank Sen. Randy Vulakovich (R-Allegheny) for his work to add this necessary fix to the bill,” Barrar concluded.
Representative Stephen E. Barrar
160th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Alison Evans
717.260.6206
aevans@pahousegop.com
SteveBarrar.com /
Facebook.com/RepBarrar