Medicare Moves Forward With Reimbursement For Emergency Triage, Treatment, & Transport By Ambulance Services

In January 2021, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reinstated its Emergency Triage, Treat and Transport (ET3) model. ET3 was originally implemented in February of 2020, then paused during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). ET3 is a voluntary, five-year payment model intended to provide greater flexibility to participating ambulance care teams to address emergency health care needs following a 911 call. Under ET3, emergency medical personnel can refer 911 callers to telehealth services, or arrange transportation to other, non-emergency department locations instead of to emergency rooms. This allows the emergency medical services (EMS) system . . .