Spotlights
Calendar Year (CY) 2025 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Final Rule
CMS issued the CY 2025 PFS final rule: https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2024-25382/medicare-and-medicaid-programs-calendar-year-2025-payment-policies-under-the-physician-fee-schedule that announces finalized policy changes for Medicare payments under the PFS and other Medicare Part B payment policy issues including ambulance services. For CY 2025, we proposed to modify the definition of advanced life support level two (ALS2) at § 414.605 by adding the administration of low titer O+ whole blood transfusion (WBT) to the list of ALS2 procedures. We also solicited comments on whether we should add alternative blood product treatments, such as the administration of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) and plasma, to the list of ALS2 procedures.
After consideration of public comments, and considering further that the indications for use, storage requirements, administration, monitoring and training for the use of PRBCs and plasma are similar to those previously described for WBT, we are finalizing our proposal to modify the definition of ALS2 at §414.605 by adding the administration of prehospital blood transfusion (PHBT) which includes low titer O+ and O- whole blood transfusion therapy, PRBCs, plasma, or a combination of PRBCs and plasma. A ground ambulance transport that provides one of these PHBTs would itself constitute an ALS2 level transport.
Reporting Labor Information in the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System (GADCS) YouTube Video – New 09/18/2024
Five Top GADCS Tips for Selected Ground Ambulance Organizations in Year 1 and Year 2 that are Required to Report Beginning in January 2023 (PDF) - Updated 11/02/2023
Five Top Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System (GADCS) Tips for Selected Year 3 and Year 4 Ground Ambulance Organizations Required to Report Beginning in January 2024 (PDF)
Walkthrough of the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System
YouTube video: https://youtu.be/hSf8YlOWSys
Visit Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System for:
- Lists of ground ambulance organizations selected in Years 1–2 required to collect information starting in 2022 and report information starting in 2023
- Organizations selected in Years 3–4 required to collect information starting in 2023 and report information starting in 2024
- FAQs (PDF)
Upcoming Events
Ambulance Open Door Forum on Thursday, November 14, 2024 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Eastern Time
View materials from past events.
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Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System
Effective January 1, 2020-2024, CMS will select ground ambulance providers and suppliers to participate in the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System (GADCS). Get more Medicare GADCS information and resources.
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