latest News

EMS Now: Trends to Watch in 2025

The article "EMS Trends to Watch in 2025" from EMSNOW explores key challenges and trends within the EMS industry for 2025, building upon the difficulties faced in 2024. Key points include:

1. Demand Uncertainty: EMS companies must carefully navigate market predictions, particularly in sectors like medical, automotive, and defense, as growth is difficult to forecast.
2. Inventory Visibility: Following pandemic-driven disruptions, EMS companies are struggling with high levels of inventory and need better forecasting data to manage component acquisitions effectively.
3. Workforce Challenges: The rise in labor costs in low-cost regions is making workforce recruitment and retention difficult, especially with lower demand leading to fewer hours.
4. Automation: More investment is being made in automating repetitive tasks in the manufacturing process, though high-mix, low-volume manufacturing continues to face challenges.
5. Reshoring/Regionalization: The industry anticipates a continued shift toward localizing manufacturing due to geopolitical issues, with countries aiming for the "China Plus One" strategy.
6. Regional Manufacturing Ecosystem: Rebuilding the regional electronics supply chain, including PCBs, will be crucial for future stability and security in the industry.
7. Macroeconomic Factors: Global tensions and economic shifts may impact the EMS market, with expected growth slowing until late 2025.

While 2025 may not be as challenging as 2024, the industry will need to adjust to these trends for sustained growth.

JEMS: 2024 EMS Reflection

In the article "2024 EMS Reflection: A Year of Continued Ups and Downs," Edward 'Ted' Lee, Ed.D, NRP, provides an overview of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) landscape in 2024. He notes significant advancements in technology and the expansion of mobile integrated health programs, which have enhanced patient care and operational efficiency. However, Lee also highlights ongoing challenges, particularly staffing shortages and financial constraints, which continue to impact EMS operations. He emphasizes the need for sustained support and innovation to address these issues and improve EMS services.

Access Full Article Here

National Rural Health Association: 2024 Year-End Health Package Update

The National Rural Health Association provided a 2024 Year-End Health Package Update as summarized below.

The House Appropriations Committee has released the proposed Continuing Resolution (C.R.) for funding the federal government through March 14, 2025. The path forward for passage remains uncertain due to opposition within the House. Key health provisions in the C.R. include:

• Medicare Telehealth Flexibilities: Extended for two years, ensuring continued access for beneficiaries.
• Rural Healthcare Funding:Medicare payment adjustments for rural hospitals, including a one-year extension for low-volume and Medicare-dependent hospitals.
• Rural ambulance services will receive two years of extended payment support.
• Rural physician practices will benefit from an extended Medicare Geographic Practice Cost Index.
• Community Health Centers funding extended for two years, with allocations for FY 2025 and FY 2026.
• Seniors and Home-based Care: The C.R. includes funding for Medicare’s Acute Hospital Care at Home program for five years, supporting home care models.
• Extension of Funding for various programs such as the National Health Service Corps and Medicaid DSH relief.
• Payment Boosts: A 2.5% increase to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for one year, which helps mitigate cuts from the 2025 Physician Fee Schedule rule.

In addition to healthcare provisions, the package includes measures for cost-offsetting, including a six-month extension of Medicare sequestration and reforms to pharmacy benefit managers.

• A longer-term extension (3-5 years) of rural hospital and ambulance payment supports.
• Preserving telehealth flexibilities.
• Supporting the addition of Medicare Advantage prior authorization reform to the package.
• Delaying Medicare sequestration extensions.

NRHA calls for focused advocacy to maintain these provisions and ensure continued support for rural healthcare.

EMS1 Reviews the Actions Taken by the 118th Congress & President Biden

The article "Inside Politics: Reviewing the Actions Taken by the 118th Congress and President Biden" provides an overview of the legislative and executive actions during the 118th Congress under President Biden.

The article highlights key legislative efforts that impact fire and EMS, such as the reauthorization of firefighter assistance programs and funding for safety equipment. Although wildfire-related bills didn't pass, many of the provisions focus on funding initiatives designed to improve public safety, which directly affects EMS services, especially in rural areas and during large-scale emergency events. These measures aim to enhance EMS operations by ensuring better resources and funding, especially during disasters.

Some of the bills passed include the following:

• The Fire Grants and Safety Act of 2023, which reauthorizes firefighter assistance programs.
• Medicare payment extensions for rural ambulance services, extending support for EMS operations in underserved areas.
• Funding for public safety relief, aimed at supporting EMS operations and providing necessary resources during emergencies.

Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program

The Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program, funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, awarded $38 million to EMS and 911 systems working on highway safety. These funds will support efforts to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on roadways. Key recipients include various cities and organizations, such as Alabaster, Alabama, and Batesville, Arkansas. The SS4A grants support both planning and demonstration projects, as well as implementation of strategies to improve safety and enhance prehospital care. EMS agencies are encouraged to apply for future funding opportunities.  

Read Full Article Here

The campaign encourages EMS professionals to contact Congress in support of extending Medicare add-on payments for ambulance services, which are set to expire on December 31, 2024. The House and Senate bills (H.R. 1666 and S. 1673) seek to extend these payments and, in the Senate version, propose increased payment rates. The extension is crucial to prevent financial strain on EMS agencies, ensuring continued access to ambulance services. For more details and to take action, visit the campaign page.

TAKE ACTION HERE: American Ambulance Association | Ask Congress to Extend the Ambulance Medicare Add-Ons!

EMS1 on the Recently Introduced Medicare No-Transport EMS Reimbursement Bill

The EMS1 article discusses the introduction of the Medicare No-Transport EMS Reimbursement Bill in December 2024. This legislation, introduced by Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia), aims to allow Medicare to reimburse EMS services even when patients are not transported to a hospital. 

Currently, EMS providers may face financial challenges when they treat patients on-site without transporting them, as Medicare does not reimburse for non-transport care. This bill seeks to address this issue by ensuring that EMS agencies can receive reimbursement for treating patients at the scene, a critical measure to support EMS agencies, especially in rural areas.

The bill is seen as a step toward improving EMS reimbursement policies, offering financial stability to providers and encouraging the growth of alternative care models, which can reduce unnecessary hospital visits and alleviate strain on emergency departments.

UPDATE: OSHA Emergency Response Rulemaking

OSHA provided an update on the Emergency Response Rulemaking Process on December 6, 2024. Per the update, the public hearing transcripts are in the process of being finalized and will be uploaded to Regulations.gov in the upcoming weeks. The docket remains open for submissions of post-hearing comments at Regulations.gov; comments are encouraged and welcomed by OSHA. 

Recap on the rule: 

The proposed rule by OSHA released this year with the intention of being finalized in 2025 is part of an effort to update the Emergency Response Standard and aims to improve safety protections for emergency responders, including EMS personnel, firefighters, and search and rescue teams. This rule would revise the existing Fire Brigades Standard (29 C.F.R. 1910.156) to extend its coverage to additional groups of emergency responders, such as those in EMS and technical rescue roles.

More information on this proposed rule: Emergency Response Rulemaking | OSHA.gov | Occupational Safety and Health Administration

VA Delays Rule Change to 2029

On December 9, 2024, the Department of Veterans Affairs delayed a rule change that would have impacted the reimbursement of ambulance services to 2029: particularly air ambulance providers. The rule would have reduced reimbursements for specialty transportation services to lower Medicare rates opposed to reimbursing providers at the existing rates for veterans which are more reflective of the costs incurred by EMS providers. This delay allows veterans to continue accessing necessary emergency transportation services without disruption.

Read more here: 24-1104.OPINION.12-9-2024_2432337.pdf

EMS_FINAL_RULE_07242020r.pdf

On October 28, 2024, updates were made to Arkansas’s Rules for Emergency Medical Services under the authority of Act 435 of 1975. Key changes include those related to EMS operations, licensing, and mutual aid. Here are some of the highlights:

• Licensing Requirements

• Ambulance services must ensure all fees and documentation are submitted to Arkansas DOH prior to licenses being issued or renewed. Licenses are contingent on meeting operational standards, personnel requirements, and equipment requirements.

• Patient Transport

• Patients with life-threatening conditions may request transport to facilities beyond the nearest medical center for specialized care.

• Communications

• Changes in efforts to enhance mutual aid responses during mass casualty incidents, including mandatory reporting procedures, radio frequencies, and coordination with the ECC and local responders have been made.

• Documentation & Reporting

• Ambulance services are required to notify receiving facilities in advance and provide patient encounter forms within 24 hours of patient transfer.

• Specialized Care & Air Ambulance Services

• Standards for air ambulance services have been clarified noting personnel and equipment requirements along with medical oversight for non-specialty care air transport.