Questions About Billing for Paramedic Services such as Paramedic Intercept

Paramedic Intercept ASM Aetna AmbulanceWhy did I get two bills, one from the ambulance service and one from the paramedic service?

Many patients and families express confusion over the concept of a ‘Paramedic Intercept’ and wonder why many health insurance companies, including Medicare, will not pay for such a service.

A Paramedic Intercept is a service provided during a medical emergency, most often in a rural area, where the ambulance operated by the patient’s town is staffed with EMTs. EMTs provide what is called Basic Life Support (BLS) while paramedics provide what is called Advanced Life Support (ALS).

ASM Mercedes Ambulance at Lutz Children’s Museum’s “Touch a Truck” Event

Lutz Museum Touch a Truck Mercedes Sprinter Ambulance ASM

ASM’s Casey Chubka with a possible future Paramedic

MANCHESTER — On June 10, 2012 the Ambulance Service of Manchester sent a 2012 Mercedes Sprinter Ambulance to the Touch a Truck event at the Lutz Children’s Museum in Manchester.

The display encouraged the kids in attendance to climb aboard, see and touch the EMS equipment and sit on the stretcher. ASM’s distinctive checkered pattern and bright colors brought a lot of attention and allowed us to compete with the Big Boys (like MFRE Engine 4).

ASM’s Casey Chubka and Nick Chasse provided ambulance tours and the entertainment for those in attendance, giving out coloring books and posing for pictures. Casey’s picture and details about the event showed up on a parenting blog about the event. 

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ASM’s Beth Sheils is Lead Instructor for Capital Community College Paramedic Program

ASM's Beth Sheils

ASM's Beth Sheils

HARTFORD – As of January 11, 2012 Ambulance Service of Manchester’s Beth Sheils became Capital Community College’s Paramedic Program lead instructor for the night program. In this role, Beth leads didactic instruction for the 18-month program, guiding 20 paramedic students through extensive education and training in the delivery of emergency medical care.

Beth is a Paramedic Supervisor for ASM. She has a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Mount Holyoke College and a Masters in Public Health from the Boston University School of Public Health, and is herself a graduate of the Capital Community College Paramedic Program. Continue reading

Aetna’s Leslie Prado Competing in Triathlon to Benefit Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Leslie Prado

Aetna's Leslie Prado

Hello Family and Friends. It has always been a goal of mine to do a triathlon for a good cause. And this year, I am swimming, biking and running to raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training (TNT).

I have committed myself to raise $800 by June 10th, 2012 for this incredible organization that leads the way in funding research to treat blood cancers and in providing financial aid to patients and their family. Seventy-five percent of all the money we raise goes directly to the LLS mission of funding research based on medical need without regard to commercial return or market size. Continue reading

Cleared for Independent Dispatch: ASM’s Rory Leslie Completes Precepting Phase

ASM's Rory Leslie with East Hartford Daisy Scouts

ASM's Rory Leslie with East Hartford Daisy Scouts

MANCHESTER – As of May 23, 2012, ASM’s Rory Leslie has been cleared by Eastern Connecticut Health Network medical control for independent dispatch as a paramedic to the towns that ASM serves.

His preceptors were Paramedic Supervisors Vinnie Maston and Beth Sheils. The full precepting phase can take ten to 12 weeks or more as the paramedic is prepped for the realities of the field. As with all precepting phases at ASM, Rory’s final approval came from ECHN after shadowing Rory and his preceptor (by proxy) in the field as they responded to emergency calls. Continue reading

ASM Wins Governor’s Award for Career EMS Organizations

HARTFORD– Ambulance Service of Manchester (ASM) has won the “Governor’s Award for Career EMS Services” for 2012. The award is conferred by the Connecticut EMS Council as part of EMS Week (May 20-26), an annual recognition of the dedication and sacrifice of Emergency Medical Services professionals.

Ambulance Service of Manchester (ASM) Wins 2012 Governor's Award Connecticut

This award was established to recognize and commend an EMS Organization that has enhanced the understanding and support of the EMS System through their public service, community education and contributions to a city, town region or the state as a whole.

Read the Remind News article here…

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The Ultimate Lifesaver? How Aetna and ASM Ambulance Stack Up – Vol. 3

A recent Wall Street Journal article described cutting edge equipment, techniques and skills in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) that are changing patient outcomes, revolutionizing care and sharpening the leading edge of the EMS industry.

Read the Wall Street Journal article here…

So how do Aetna and ASM match up against The Ultimate Lifesaver?

Volume 3: Induced hypothermia

Studies have shown a significant improvement in neurological outcomes for victims of cardiac arrest who receive Continue reading