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  • January 20, 2017 3:28 PM | Amanda Riordan (Administrator)

    Session Recording

    The recording of the January 19 FAA meeting in Daytona has been posted to the meeting archive page for member review. This recording includes a presentation by First Coast Service Options representative Robert Lewis, and is eligible for NAAC CEUs.

    Service Recognition

    The outstanding service of two former FAA Board leaders, Chief Dave Dyal and Mark Postma, was acknowledged by President Eismann. Thank you for all that you continue to contribute to the Florida Ambulance Association! More pictures on FAA's Facebook>


  • January 19, 2017 9:00 AM | Amanda Riordan (Administrator)

    Active member organizations of the Florida Ambulance Association are invited to volunteer for the FAA's new committee focused on legislative and regulatory affairs. Please email faa@the-aaa.org to request to join. (The committee will be chaired by an FAA board member.)

  • January 17, 2017 9:48 AM | Amanda Riordan (Administrator)

    Great news for NAAC-certified FAA members! The 90-minute First Coast Service Options presentation at the January 19 FAA membership meeting has been approved for NAAC CEUs. 

    Pick up your certificate onsite in Daytona, or download a copy from our member-only Meeting Documents page.

  • December 21, 2016 10:45 AM | Amanda Riordan (Administrator)

    From the First Coast Service Options website, last updated 11/17/2016:

    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued the ambulance fee schedule (AFS) file, effective for services January 1 through December 31, 2017.

    Download PDF


  • December 19, 2016 11:45 AM | Amanda Riordan (Administrator)

    The Florida Ambulance Association wishes EMS providers across our great state a joyful holiday season. Thank you for all that you do for our communities!


  • November 21, 2016 2:55 PM | Amanda Riordan (Administrator)

    The Florida Ambulance Association needs your help! The FAA needs accurate data from ambulance providers of all types—for-profit, non-profit, fire-based, hospital-based, private, municipal, and all combinations of the above—in order to educate Floridian legislators about key industry issues.

    Would you please complete our short survey by December 31, 2016? Please be assured that your data will be kept in strict confidence, and will be released only in aggregate statistics. Thank you in advance for your assistance with this key initiative!

    COMPLETE OUR SHORT, CONFIDENTIAL SURVEY►


  • November 15, 2016 5:03 PM | Amanda Riordan (Administrator)
    Several ambulance services across the country recently received erroneous letters from CMS Supplemental Medical Review Contractor (SMRC), StrategicHealthSolutions, LLC. These letters suggest that the ambulance service has been selected for review.


    Please note that StrategicHealthSolutions, LLC has confirmed that these letters were sent in error, and were intended only for physical therapy providers.

    Letters informing impacted ambulance services of the mistake are set to be mailed November 16.

    (Excerpted from the American Ambulance Association's November 15 Member Advisory by Brian Werfel, Esq.)

  • November 11, 2016 12:14 PM | Amanda Riordan (Administrator)

    President Eismann recommends that all FAA members keep up-to-date with the National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO) monthly newsletter.

    Catch up at on their site today! The November issue, just posted, includes updates on vehicle standards, REPLICA, opioid abuse, and more.

  • October 14, 2016 3:39 PM | Amanda Riordan (Administrator)

    From the First Coast Service Options website:

    First Coast Service Options Inc. (First Coast) will conduct a widespread probe (WSP) in response to an aberrant billing pattern identified for Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes A0427 (Ambulance service, advanced life support, emergency transport, level I) and A0428 (Ambulance service, basic life support, non­emergency transport). Provider type affected specialty 59 Ambulance Company. CERT reviews indicated the errors were based on insufficient documentation to support the services billed that include missing signature, signed physician certification for the ambulance transport, and clinical documentation to support medical necessity for billed ambulance services.

    First Coast will complete a WSP for dates of service February 1, 2016, to July 31, 2016, to validate the documentation supports the medical necessity and the level of ambulance service billed.

    First Coast Service Options (First Coast) strives to ensure that the information available on our provider website is accurate, detailed, and current.

    Therefore, this is a dynamic site and its content changes daily. It is best to access the site to ensure you have the most current information rather than printing articles or forms that may become obsolete without notice.


  • October 11, 2016 3:18 PM | Amanda Riordan (Administrator)

    An update from First Coast

    First Coast Service Options, your Medicare Administrative Contractor for Part A and B services in Florida, is hosting our upcoming educational symposium in Tallahassee November 2-3. If possible, would you be able to share the information below with you members? We really appreciate your help!

    First Coast’s Medicare Speaks 2016 Tallahassee  

    November 2-3, 2016, at the Four Points by Sheraton Tallahassee Downtown  

    Learn what’s trending now in the fee-for-service Medicare program. Join First Coast Service Options (First Coast), your Medicare Administrative Contractor in Florida, for our upcoming educational symposium, Medicare Speaks 2016. The event occurs in Tallahassee on November 2-3. The event features 16 classes on the Medicare program focused on reducing documentation and claim errors, minimizing payment delays, and promoting the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) initiatives like MACRA. Participants can select four classes per day, or select only the individual classes of interest to meet their schedule needs.

    The cost is only $40 per class.

    Highlights

    • 16 Part A and B classes chosen by your peers -- View course schedule
    • Participation from First Coast’s operational areas such as Provider Enrollment, Customer Serviceand Provider Outreach and Education departments
    • Medicare experts available to answer your questions at “Ask the Contractor” tables
    • Continuing education credits offered

    The ideal audiences for the Part B classes include providers, billers, coders, office managers and compliance officers. Classes of particular interest for FMA members and their staff include:

    • MACRA and Medicare’s new payment reform
    • Preparing for and responding to additional documentation requests
    • Ensuring the integrity of your electronic health records
    • Preventive services
    • Coverage and billing criteria for drugs and biologicals
    • Understanding Medicare’s local and national coverage policies
    • Modifiers for same-day services
    • Learning Medicare through First Coast and CMS resources

    For additional information regarding the event, including logistics and registration, view our Medicare Speaks 2016 Tallahassee brochure.

    Register now external link through our First Coast University website

    Note: If you do not already have a free training account with First Coast University, please click here to learn how to create one.

     

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