The past two weeks have seen swift action to make population and waiver amendments to first responder legislation now making its way through the bill writing process. The Senate version, first passed on June 9, was changed to closely mirror the Assembly's Health Committee version.  

According to the amendments, population less than 10,000 can automatically staff a first responder as a legal crew member, and doesn't require a staffing plan waiver.  More than 20,000 population can't use first responders as a legal crew staffing option.  Population is defined by the single largest municipality in the ambulance service's coverage area.

Population 10,000 or more but not more than 20,000 may apply to the Department of Health for a staffing plan waiver; however, certain conditions must be demonstrated to include all of the following:

• The ambulance service provider has undertaken efforts to recruit and train emergency medical technicians capable of being licensed under this section.
• Despite efforts under subd. 2. a., licensed emergency medical technicians are not available in sufficient numbers for staffing for the ambulance services provider.
• Without a waiver under subd. 1., the municipality that the ambulance service provider serves is unable to meet staffing requirements for ambulances that require 2 emergency medical technicians on every service call.
• The department shall provide a written staffing waiver to any ambulance service provider it approves under subd. 2.
• A waiver under subd. 1. is valid for 48 months after the date of issuance, and an ambulance service provider may apply to renew the waiver.
• An ambulance service provider with a waiver under subd. 1. shall attempt to staff an ambulance with 2 licensed emergency medical technicians whenever possible.

A legislative bill allowing one first responder to be part of a two-person legal ambulance crew in municipalities of less than 10,000 population passed the Assembly's Health Committee this past week and is now headed to the full Assembly for a hearing - possibly as early as next week.  The Senate passed its version back in June.

The Professional Ambulance Association of Wisconsin, along with North Memorial Medical Center, sponsored last week a two-day Community Paramedicine Study Tour to Minneapolis.

A post review discussion of items learned during the recent Tour took place September 18.  The conversation lasted 60 minutes, and brought out important items from all perspectives with creating a community paramedicine program.

To listen to the on-demand playback, click this link:  http://tobtr.com/7928901

Green Bay Packers Vice President of Marketing and Fan Engagement, Gabrielle Dow, announced on September 16, team Director of Sports Medicine Administration, Pepper Burruss, will deliver the welcome reception message at next week's Wisconsin Stars of Life event.  Dow is also participating in the event by providing opening remarks.

Twenty-six Wisconsin Stars of Life honorees, each nominated by their respective ambulance service, will be recognized in a series of events in Green Bay on September 23 and 24.  The first is a kickoff Welcome Reception at Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers, on Wednesday from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.  The second event on Thursday is a formal awards and dinner banquet during the Paramedic Systems of Wisconsin Conference at Tundra Lodge and Conference Center.

About Pepper Burruss
One of the more visible people in the organization, Pepper Burruss embarks upon his 23rd season with the Packers and his 39th in the NFL overall. Burruss, a certified athletic trainer and physical therapist, enters his first season as director of sports medicine administration after 22 years as the head athletic trainer. He joined the Green Bay Packers in 1993 following 16 seasons with the New York Jets as an assistant athletic trainer.

Burruss has won several awards during his NFL tenure. Most recently, he earned the NFL Physicians Society’s Outstanding NFL Athletic Trainer award for the 2012 season at the annual NFL Scouting Combine.

The Critical Care Emergency Medical Transport Program (CCEMTP) course will meet every Thursday and Friday, 8 am – 5pm, beginning April 7, 2016 through May 27, 2016.

A nationally recognized training program Critical Care Emergency Medical Transport Program (CCEMTP®) offers experienced paramedics and nurses a foundation that will prepare you to become a critical care transport specialist. This intense 100-plus hour course, presented at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, WI was developed by the Department of Emergency Health Services at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC); The curriculum has such an excellent reputation that it is accepted as the base course for many other state and national level certification training.

>> Click for course brochure containing further information and registration form.

For more information contact, Rick Barton in the EMS Education Department at Gundersen Health System, rkbarton@gundersenhealth.org. or by phone at (608) 775-6315.

This continuing education activity is approved by UMBC, an organization accredited by the Continuing Education Coordinating Board for Emergency Medical Services (CECBEMS).

Based on member interest, the Professional Ambulance Association of Wisconsin completed a conference call on September 15 with Wisconsin Department of Revenue TRIP Administrator Joseph Mugenga.  TRIP, which stands for Tax Refund Interception Program, is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR).  >> Click here for the DOR TRIP website.

>> To listen to the conference call playback on-demand, click this link:  http://tobtr.com/7892733

The call lasted 50 minutes with several important points highlighted and questions answered.

>> Click to read Act 59 (2015 Senate Bill 40 - TRIP) signed into law by Governor Scott Walker

>> To listen to the conference call playback on-demand, click this link:  http://tobtr.com/7892733

>> Click here for the Wisconsin Dept. of Revenue TRIP website.

A former paramedic convicted of endangering patients by stealing pain meds and swapping them out with other substances will spend five months in jail and four years on probation.

During a sentencing hearing Wednesday, September 9, in Sauk County Circuit Court, 40-year-old Jason M. Ramker, formerly of Portage, was convicted of misconduct in office and possession of narcotic drugs.

Eleven other felony and misdemeanor charges against Ramker were dismissed as part of a plea agreement with the Sauk County District Attorney’s Office.

>> Click to read more.

Based on member interest, the Professional Ambulance Association of Wisconsin has arranged a conference call with two representatives from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) who are in charge of administering TRIP.  The conference call is open to those interested and is dedicated to discussing TRIP and answering questions.

The DOR/TRIP conference call is scheduled for Tuesday, September 15, starting at 2:00 p.m.  Listen or participate by either phoning in at 646-929-1081 (Blog Talk Radio) or via any internet connected device at this link:  http://tobtr.com/7892733

TRIP is another means to collect on past due accounts; however, the process can't be used for Medicare or Medicaid (i.e., BadgerCare) claims.

>> Click to read Act 59 (2015 Senate Bill 40 - TRIP) signed into law by Governor Scott Walker

Thirty-three Wisconsin participants from EMS and fire departments, hospitals, and hospice organizations made their way to Minneapolis, Minnesota, for the Community Paramedicine Study Tour, presented by staff members at North Memorial Medical Center and sponsored by PAAW.

According to PAAW Executive Director Joe Covelli, "The opportunity brought together healthcare providers looking for ways to get started with CP and bring it to their local community.  The staff at North Memorial Medical Center was very gracious with their time, information, and access, to include in-field clinical ride alongs for participants." 

Besides clinical ride alongs, day one also included presentations from those in the Twin Cities metropolitan area with CP programs, to not only include North Memorial Medical Center, but also Hennepin County Medical Center and HealthEast Medical Transportation.  In addition, there were presentations by North Memorial Medical Center staff members regarding care coordination, pharmacy, how to start a CP program, establishing dedicated CP clinic sites (i.e. mental health treatment), and scheduling coordination.  All presentations and programs centered around one focal point - improving patient outcomes with a team approach.  Data measures and outcomes presented support this point. 

Topics discussed included:

• First Responder as legal ambulance crew member.
• ICD-10 ambulance billing code changes, effective October 1, 2015, and what this means for your ambulance service.  ICD-9 diagnostic code submissions won't be accepted as of the ICD-10 effective date by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.  This can be a big deal depending on your payer mix and cash flow.  The last thing you want is patient transport bills being denied by Medicare for improper diagnostic codes.
• Medicare fraud with attorney Wendy Arends from Godfrey and Kahn, Madison.
• Announcement of new webcast title from "Wisconsin EMS Live" to "EMS Live in Wisconsin" and reasons for the change.
  

>> Click to listen to this webcast!