It is obvious that EMS is at a crossroads, and many argue that our challenges are existential: initial education, recruitment, retention, and finances all seem to be under varying degrees of crisis. While there’s no silver bullet, speaker David Fifer will present research that suggests the most impactful way to address all of these challenges at once involves modernizing the current model of EMS certification, and building a new paradigm built on the healthcare clinical ladder model.
AI and EMS Business Development: A Strategic Advantage
Is your business keeping pace with AI’s strategic edge? This session uncovers how AI tools can uncover hidden growth opportunities, revolutionize customer relations, and fine-tune your strategies for competitive success. With actionable insights and a touch of wit, Pat and Dom will ensure you’re ready to take your EMS business to the next level.
How Can They Do That? A Comparative State Analysis of the Impact of Healthcare Regulations on MIH Programs
Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) and Community Paramedicine (CP) programs vary widely across states due to differences in laws and regulations. This session provides a comprehensive look at how state-specific regulations affect the operation, efficiency, and scalability of MIH programs. We will examine the most popular MIH models, discuss their financial and clinical goals, and explore the regulatory landscapes that enhance or inhibit their success. Participants will learn to navigate these complexities and gain insights into advocating for regulatory changes that foster the growth and effectiveness of MIH services.
Learning Objectives:
Understand the most common MIH models, including their financial and clinical outcomes.
Analyze how variations in state laws and regulations affect MIH staffing, costs, and program effectiveness.
Discuss strategies for advocating changes in laws or regulations that limit MIH program expansion.
Learn methodologies for analyzing and amending state laws and regulations to better support MIH initiatives.
This session will equip attendees with the knowledge to assess and influence the regulatory environment, promoting more effective and expansive MIH programs.
A Compliance Program is not a “set it and forget it” part of your risk management portfolio. Attendees will learn the seven areas the OIG considers when measuring the effectiveness of a compliance program. They will also discuss the DOJ Criminal Division’s 2023 “Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs” which guides prosecutors in determining the resolution of offenses, based on the effectiveness of the provider’s compliance program. Finally, it will compare these tools with the original OIG Compliance Guidance from 2003.
The Smart Money: Using Artificial Intelligence to Transform EMS Collections
This innovative session reveals how artificial intelligence is reshaping EMS revenue cycle management from reactive to predictive. Attendees will discover how their billing data contains hidden intelligence that can forecast payment timelines, identify at-risk claims, and optimize collection strategies. Through visual demonstrations and real-world examples, participants will see how AI analyzes thousands of policy numbers in seconds to predict which claims need attention, when payments will arrive, and how to improve collection rates. This practical session transforms complex technology into actionable insights for immediate revenue cycle improvement. Key Takeaways:
Predicting which claims are likely to be underpaid or delayed before they become problems
Understanding how policy number patterns reveal crucial insights about payment behavior
Implementing AI-driven prioritization strategies to accelerate cash flow and improve collection rates
This session demonstrates how artificial intelligence isn’t just cutting-edge technology—it’s a practical tool that EMS agencies can use today to work smarter, not harder, in their revenue cycle operations.
Stools Can’t Stand on Two Legs: Building a Balanced EMS Organization
Donna Hankins, American Ambulance Association Payer Relations Committee Chair, and Amy Gnojek, Founder/Principal Consultant of Apex360, will explore the essential synergy between Operations, Finance/Admin, and Reimbursement, with Compliance as the stabilizing force. Attendees will discover how aligning these critical components strengthens their EMS system’s stability, efficiency, and financial health. Participants will leave equipped with actionable strategies, including fostering interdisciplinary communication to eliminate silos, integrating compliance into daily workflows to reduce risk, and leveraging data-driven collaboration to enhance revenue cycles. This session offers practical insights that EMS leaders can implement immediately to drive performance and build a more resilient organization.
Building on their popular webinar “7 Wastes of EMS Billing: How to Apply Lean Manufacturing”, Katie Arens, Chair of the AAA Data Task Force, and Donna Hankins, Chair of the AAA Payer Relations Committee, will explore the concept of waste in product and process development, specifically focusing on the twelve common types of waste that can be found in the revenue cycle process. By identifying and understanding these wastes, participants will gain valuable insights into streamlining processes, reducing costs, and improving overall efficiency in ambulance billing operations. Whether you are a billing specialist, manager, or industry professional, this session will provide practical knowledge and actionable strategies for enhancing performance and delivering greater value in ambulance billing. Don’t miss this opportunity to optimize your billing cycle and drive meaningful improvements in your organization.
This informative session will delve into the latest data and trends shaping the healthcare insurance landscape in FY2024. Attendees will gain insights into the key factors driving changes within the industry, including shifts in policy, technology advancements, and consumer behavior. The presentation aims to provide a clear, objective view of how these trends are influencing insurance plans and what that means for EMS and other healthcare providers.
Attendees will leave the session equipped with essential knowledge to navigate the evolving insurance landscape, better prepare for future challenges, and inspire proactive solution-building within their organizations.
The question of whether to contract with insurers has been a long-standing point of debate in EMS. Historically, there was little incentive for EMS organizations, particularly 911 agencies, to actively seek out agreements with insurers. However, the passage of the Federal No Surprises Act and various state balance billing laws has changed the equation somewhat. In this panel discussion, a group of EMS lawyers will discuss the potential benefits and pitfalls of insurance contracting.
Sponsored by: Bound Tree
The American Ambulance Association has been working towards modernization of the ambulance fee schedule for over a decade. Earlier this year we received the preliminary data from the CMS Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System and are expecting the mandated MedPAC report to be released during the summer of 2026. This report will lay the foundation for the future of the ambulance fee schedule, which hits all payers and will determine what the future of EMS reimbursement looks like. Join our panel of speakers, Tristan North, American Ambulance Association Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, Kathy Lester, Principal of Lester Health Law, and Shawn Baird, American Ambulance Association Payment Reform and Strategic Planning Committee Chair, for an update on opportunities for modernization of EMS reimbursement and discuss the AAA’s payment reform efforts.
The Medicare Program is constantly evolving. In this session, AAA Medicare Consultant Brian S. Werfel, Esq. will review the changes to the Medicare Program over the previous year. We will also discuss the first Ambulance Cost Data report, and its implications for the future of Medicare reimbursement. The second part of the session will focus on compliance, with an emphasis on the current Medicare audit landscape.
Please join Brian S. Werfel, Esq., Medicare Consultant for the American Ambulance Association for a two-part discussion of the latest news affecting Medicare’s reimbursement for ambulance services. In the first session, we will discuss the changes impacting Medicare reimbursement for calendar year 2024. We will also look at the most recent aggregate Medicare payment data. This data is useful in identifying long-term trends in reimbursement. This data can also help us understand some of the potential reimbursement changes Congress might consider once it receives the Medicare Payment Advisory’s (MedPAC) report on Ambulance Cost Data. The session will conclude with a Q&A session.
Please join A.A.A. Medicare Consultant Brian S. Werfel, Esq. for the second part of our Medicare Update series. In the first presentation, we covered changes to the Medicare Program’s reimbursement of ambulance services. In this session, we will focus on the compliance challenges facing EMS providers. This will include the recent uptick in Unified Program Integrity Contractor (UPIC) audits, the current status of Target Probe and Educate (TPE) audits, the ongoing impact of the Repetitive Scheduled Non-Emergency Ambulance Transport (RSNAT) Prior Authorization Model. We will also discuss several recent enforcement actions by the HHS Office of the Inspector General and the Department of Justice. The session will conclude with a Q&A session.
Join the AAA Government Affairs Team for an update on the latest federal advocacy efforts! The AAA is spearheading numerous efforts on Capitol Hill related to the EMS Workforce Shortage, Medicare Reimbursement, VA Final Rule, and much more. The team will provide an update on the status of each of our federal priorities and the behind-the-scenes activity on various policy issues important to your operation as well as how you can assist in our advocacy efforts.
This session will also cover the ways that your organization can better engage in advocacy efforts at the federal, state, and local levels! Hear from experts in advocacy from around the nation as they share their secrets to success.
Session Sponsor: Bound Tree
Session Moderator: Harry Larson, Bound Tree
Financial information is too-often reserved for positions with a strong say in the money-making decisions in EMS. But there are a number of reasons why business acumen should be expanded out of the accounting department and shared with every member of an EMS service. By expanding the financial knowledge base, you create a number of key benefits for both your employees and agency. Encouraging staff to understand the financial “why’s” behind decision-making reduces stress, undue skepticism, and ultimately creates buy-in and support for the goals of the organization. This session will cover a number of key economic and financial topics important for all EMS providers to understand, from line staff to top level management, as well as why it’s important to view EMS with a “profit-friendly” lens.
Join us for a deep dive into both federal and state balance billing initiatives! Our expert presenters will cover the next steps in our efforts at the federal level related to balance billing following the recommendations from the Ground Ambulance Patient Billing Advisory Committee and the efforts taking place in various states across the county to pass their own state-level balance billing laws.
Healthcare Coalitions (HCCs) bring together individual healthcare and response organizations in a defined geographic area, such as acute care hospitals, emergency medical service (EMS) providers, emergency management agencies, and public health agencies, to prepare healthcare delivery systems to respond to emergencies and disasters. HCCs collaborate to ensure each member has what it needs to respond to emergencies and other events, including medical equipment and supplies, real-time information, communication systems, and more.
Learn the benefits of being involved in a healthcare coalition and how participation can help you better prepare and respond during small and large events.
You’re good! Are you? Really? What measures are you using? How do you compare to other agencies? How do you compare to yourself over time? Proving the value of the services you deliver has never been more important than it is today. If you want to remain the provider, or if you need funding for your services from payers, including taxpayers, you need to show that the service you provide makes a difference and is valuable. This session will provide key metrics your agency should be measuring, reporting, and improving to show that you bring value to the community you serve.
In this presentation, we will dive into the impact of Medicare Advantage plans on the ambulance industry. The landscape of Medicare Advantage plans is constantly evolving, and we will explore how these changes affect ambulance providers. We will provide an overview of the various types of Medicare Advantage plans and shed light on the key differences between traditional fee-for-service Medicare and Medicare Advantage, focusing on plan features and patient cost sharing. The transition to Medicare Advantage plans brings forth a range of considerations and implications for the ambulance industry. We will identify and evaluate the unique challenges faced by ambulance providers in this new landscape. Topics of discussion will include network participation requirements, changes in reimbursement models, denial management, prior authorization processes, and data analysis from Fair Health by HMA. As the Medicare Advantage landscape continues to evolve, it is crucial for ambulance providers to stay informed and prepared. By grasping the impact of Medicare Advantage plans on the ambulance industry, and by considering the unique challenges they present, providers can position themselves for success. We hope that through this presentation, you will gain valuable insights into the implications of Medicare Advantage plans and discover opportunities to navigate this changing landscape effectively.
This presentation will dive into the unique challenges faced by ambulance providers in the context of Medicaid Managed Care. Under traditional Medicaid fee-for-service, the reimbursement process is well-defined, but with Medicaid Managed Care, the landscape has become more complex. Medicaid beneficiaries are now enrolled in managed care plans across many states, which necessitate ambulance services to navigate a different set of rules and guidelines. Through real-life case studies and industry experiences, we will examine the practical implications and discuss effective strategies for navigating these challenges. Medicaid Managed Care presents unique challenges and opportunities for the ambulance industry. By understanding the intricacies of managed care, collaborating effectively with MCOs, implementing best practices, and leveraging data, ambulance providers can navigate the evolving landscape successfully. We hope this presentation will provide you with valuable insights and actionable strategies to optimize your services and improve outcomes for Medicaid beneficiaries.
