Spotlights

COVID-19 Information:

• Updated 12/07/20: CMS is using its statutory authority under section 1135(b)(5) of the Act to modify the data collection and reporting period for ground ambulance organizations that were selected to report in year 1 and year 2 of the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System. This revised modification has been issued on page 31 in the following document: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/summary-covid-19-emergency-declaration-waivers.pdf (PDF).
• CMS has developed COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) (PDF) on Medicare Fee For Service (FFS) Billing.  Ambulance services FAQs begin on page 45.

New Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System

Effective January 1, 2020 and continuing through 2024, ground ambulance providers and suppliers that have been selected to participate in the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System must collect information on cost, utilization, revenue, and other service characteristics in accordance with the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection Instrument for a continuous 12-month period.  The information collected will be used to evaluate the extent to which reported costs relate to payment rates under the Medicare Part B Ambulance Fee Schedule (AFS), as well as to collect information on the utilization of capital equipment and ambulance capacity, and the different types of ground ambulance services furnished in different geographic locations, including rural areas and low population density areas (super rural areas).  Failure to sufficiently submit the required information will result in a 10 percent reduction to payments under the AFS for one year, unless a hardship exemption has been granted or an informal review has determined that your organization is not subject to the 10 percent reduction to payments.

For additional information, see:

• CY 2022 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Final Rule: https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2021-23972/medicare-program-cy-2022-payment-policies-under-the-physician-fee-schedule-and-other-changes-to-part.

  In this Final Rule, we finalized a series of changes to the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System which are effective on or after January 1, 2022. We will be posting an updated version of the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection Instrument that will incorporate these changes.

• In the CY 2022 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Proposed Rule with comment period, we proposed a series of changes to the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System that, if finalized, would be effective on or after January 1, 2022. CMS will accept comments on the proposed rule until September 13, 2021, and will respond to comments in a final rule.
  
  Link to the CY 2022 PFS Proposed Rule: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/07/23/2021-14973/medicare-program-cy-2022-payment-policies-under-the-physician-fee-schedule-and-other-changes-to-part.
  
  Link to the Fact Sheet: Medicare PFS Proposed Rule: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/calendar-year-cy-2022-medicare-physician-fee-schedule-proposed-rule.
   
• CY 2020 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Final Rule 
• Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System webpage   
• Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection Instrument (printable English version - Updated 01/07/2022) (PDF)
• Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection Instrument (printable Spanish version – Posted 02/10/2022) (PDF)
• Report: Medicare’s Ground Ambulance Data Collection System: Sampling and Instrument Considerations and Recommendations (PDF)  
• Ground Ambulance Providers and Suppliers Selected to Submit Data in Year 1 (ZIP)  
• Ground Ambulance Providers and Suppliers Selected to Submit Data in Year 2 (ZIP)
• FAQs (Updated 01/07/2022) (PDF) 
• Quick Reference Guide (Updated 03/08/2022) (PDF)

Webinars:

• May 12, 2022 Ambulance Open Door Forum 
  Agenda posted at: https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/OpenDoorForums/ODF_Ambulance. 
  Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection Instrument (GADCS): Top 10 Tips slide presentation (PDF)
  Audio recording and transcript available at: https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/OpenDoorForums/PodcastAndTranscripts
• March 29, 2022 Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System Webinar: Question and Answer (Q&A) Session 
  The slide presentation (PDF) is available. 
  The audio recording is available here: https://cms.zoomgov.com/rec/share/DeFNkm_T-3u1dwrBeptic-04XhdGxaE22OxvQrSWr5O8ynqtgCP0D1w_l7sl9zN_.cfihZEBAdmIrnDzT  Passcode: Hc21=.VS
  The transcript will be posted when available.   
• January 18, 2022 Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System Webinar: Question and Answer (Q&A) Session 
  The audio recording is available here: https://cms.zoomgov.com/rec/share/gKQmh_QE2TDdnQbMzDo7wqhDO23RUYj8DqCGaj9dqxmvwsZQ_QwhhJylBSmOZP-x.C50Bpa5eU9Z-gn8q  Passcode: +.sL3^g8
  The transcript will be posted when available.
• December 14, 2021 Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System Webinar: Question and Answer Session 
  The audio recording is available here:https://cms.zoomgov.com/rec/share/bTikt2oJFfIn4B6u1kPDkzY40SiGU43NvB3PUxkfODqF9Df3ZN9OfubB7UwVYsZq.JbVHNG3KfwkZj_LN  Passcode: p5d^4eNi
  The transcript will be posted when available.
• November 18, 2021 Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System Webinar: Data Collection and Data Reporting Requirements for Multiple NPI Organizations 
  The slide presentation is available here (PDF).
  The audio recording is available here: https://cms.zoomgov.com/rec/share/pRWkcaPRzBfHNqHKvcuZaDGrXtgjekiUpcgvcOzrALj9tC80GpZ-OjgubvT-otY9.N4_B3qoNtmoSgrh9  Passcode: JiTt0ht+
  The transcript will be posted when available.
• November 4, 2021 Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System Webinar: Reporting for Hospitals and Other Medicare Providers 
  The slide presentation is available here (PDF).
  The audio recording is available here: https://cms.zoomgov.com/rec/share/555mH7Upbfy3Q4QNfbUzjGbhiIliopI68K21yNmUfiSgvU_sUrkUHp--0iNsiSO5.mu5g7h3lF2Zb14cH Passcode: NiEX4f!$
  The transcript will be posted when available.
• October 28, 2021 Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System Webinar: Revenue Section of the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection Instrument 
  The slide presentation is available here (PDF).
  The audio recording is available here: https://cms.zoomgov.com/rec/share/juYT3CUYKathMCSYahhxrapolC9JjuTw4EYrcVsaARunD9pvaUmKWfI9_nuhfGna.uj6mlARWp7MT1rHm Passcode: kJAa58.s
  The transcript will be posted when available.
• October 21, 2021 Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System Webinar: Public Safety Organization Requirements
  The slide presentation is available here (PDF)
  The audio recording is available here: https://cms.zoomgov.com/rec/share/s4_VdcoB-Mde13olJiZjEFzBpfwAY1HOx0tS8Wv8N5zZooORbIDZfBH8C5L1O2s.o8i4yiMDaCfEDD-g. Passcode: PaYE9!Z3
  The transcript will be posted when available.
• October 14, 2021 Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System Webinar: Volunteer Organization Requirements
  The slide presentation is available here (PDF).
  The audio recording is available here: https://cms.zoomgov.com/rec/share/l_18Rq1t81tpfjSSRF7n4Ngab4iWnDxMx0avqKkW591zPWFx_vRFBu8WT9CB2qS7.upGMSoWAUoRW3QW4 Passcode: V?i7YN6.
  The transcript will be posted when available.
• October 12, 2021 Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System: Question and Answer Session
  Audio recording and transcript will be posted when available.
  The audio recording is available here: https://cms.zoomgov.com/rec/share/_ft8sghcZ3U5jNY5bAoARGl1sYGI6mLUdKTBa8lOtr29Gn6BcGVPHJoT9tdEUc_k.tJhZ2dznkQ6Rq-i5 Passcode: %Dn1WM=6
  The transcript will be posted when available.
• October 7, 2021 Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System Webinar: Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection Instrument Section 7, Labor Costs
  The slide presentation is available here (PDF).
  The audio recording is available here  Passcode: FWP^P#0A 
  The transcript is available here (PDF)
• September 14, 2021 Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System: Question and Answer Session
  The audio recording is available here  Passcode: CeA.6&N+ 
  The transcript is available here (PDF)
• August 26, 2021 Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System Webinar: Instrument Walkthrough
  The slide presentation is available here. (PDF)
  The audio recording is available here  Passcode: D.UG4*1#
  The transcript is available here (PDF)
• August 12, 2021 Ambulance Open Door Forum: Overview of the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System slide presentation  (PDF)
  Transcript and Audio File (ZIP)
• Ambulance Open Door Forum: October 22, 2020 transcript and audio file
• March 12, 2020 Ground Ambulance Organizations: Data Collection for Public Safety-Based Organizations Call presentation and transcript
• February 20, 2020 Ground Ambulance Organizations: Reporting Volunteer Labor Call presentation and transcript
• Ambulance Open Door Forum: February 6, 2020 Slide Presentation (PDF)
• Ambulance Open Door Forum: February 6, 2020 transcript and audio file (ZIP)
• December 5, 2019 National Provider call presentation and transcript
• Ambulance Open Door Forum: November 7, 2019 Slide Presentation (PDF)
• Ambulance Open Door Forum: November 7, 2019 transcript and audio file (ZIP)
• Ambulance Open Door Forum: August 28, 2019 Slide Presentation (PDF)
• Ambulance Open Door Forum: August 28, 2019 transcript (PDF)

Bipartisan Budget Act (BBA) of 2018 (Public Law 115-123)

• The BBA of 2018 includes three major Medicare ambulance services provisions pertaining to: Extensions of certain ground ambulance add-on payments, Development of a data collection system for ground ambulance providers and suppliers, and Payment reduction for non-emergency ESRD ambulance transports. A summary of these provisions (PDF) is also available.