This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit
Click here to watch a video of this week鈥檚 podcast!
鈥淢y first reaction was, what the hell. My second reaction was, well, I guess if there鈥檚 not going to be any participation agreement, then we鈥檙e not bound by confidentiality anymore, and I鈥檒l just email the Booz Allen presentation to every member of Congress, and say, 鈥榟ere鈥檚 the savings to the Medicare program, please pass the TIP and TAD language. And I honestly think we should do that, and we probably will.鈥� 鈥� Matt Zavadsky
In this crossover episode of Inside EMS and EMS One-Stop, Matt Zavadsky, MS-HSA, EMT, chief transformation officer at MedStar Mobile Healthcare (an ET3 participant), joins cohosts Chris Cebollero and Rob Lawrence to discuss the recently announced end of the ET3 program.
Top quotes from this episode
- 鈥淭hat must be a mistake 鈥� I was just dumbfounded, absolutely dumbfounded.鈥� 鈥� Matt Zavadsky
- 鈥淲e can鈥檛 stop this 鈥� we鈥檝e got to continue to move this along somehow and ensure that we鈥檙e still doing the things we need to do for our patients.鈥� 鈥� Chris Cebollero
- 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 take a rocket scientist to figure out that if we don鈥檛 bring everybody to the hospital, that the patient benefits; Medicare benefits.鈥� 鈥� Matt Zavadsky
- In the last 2 years, 鈥�55 systems have closed and growing 鈥� because the economic model is jacked up. Until we as a profession do what nurses did, do what doctors do, to show that our value is not transactional; our value is transformative 鈥� our days are numbered.鈥� 鈥� Matt Zavadsky
- 鈥淐ontinue to do what you do while we try to sort out this mess, because we thought we were on the right route, and then someone鈥檚 now put out a roadblock, so we have to work out how to detour or indeed knock it down. Keep up the good work while we try to work out how to get around this.鈥� 鈥� Rob Lawrence
- 鈥淲e as a profession cannot let this be the final word.鈥� 鈥� Matt Zavadsky
In addition to why CMS didn鈥檛 see the savings they were anticipating, and the hoops agencies had to jump through to participate in the ET3 program, the group focuses on what鈥檚 next for reimbursement reform.
Together, they discuss:
- How the national associations (NAEMT, AAA, IAFC, IAFF) are working to get legislation introduced in Congress to get treatment in place and transport to alternate destinations (TIP and TAD) covered
- The need for data from organizations that participated in the ET3 model that proves the cost savings
- Admittance avoidance vs. arrival avoidance at the ED
- Turning frustration with Medicare into action
Peer-reviewed, empirical data is needed to pursue alternative payment structures
